For Dominic Boyle and Tammy Mitchell, the Bunbury Outer Ring Road has consumed their days for several months as they work to confirm alignments for the multi-million dollar project.
According to Main Roads, the Bunbury Outer Ring Road consists of three sections – the northern section between Forrest Highway and Boyanup Picton Road, the central section (which was completed in May 2013 and connects Boyanup Picton Road and South Western Highway), and the southern section between South Western Highway and Bussell Highway.
The project is promising to provide more efficient access to the Bunbury Port, enable the expansion of industrial centres and support economic growth in the region.
Since first starting planning, community and stakeholder engagement manager Tammy Mitchell and project director Dominic Boyle have met with 111 landowners and conducted several meetings with stakeholders and concerned residents.
“One of the criticisms we get from the community is that we’re setting it up to fail or we’re not doing it legitimately or we’re just doing it to reiterate a decision that has already been made and it’s not,” Ms Mitchell said.
“It’s a very valid and robust process that needs to be done.
“No matter where that road goes, it’s going to have an affect on people’s lives and so we need to make sure that we give it that due diligence.”
Mr Boyle described the process as an intensive effort to ensure impacted landowners were respected.
“We do really understand what the concerns of the community are but we’re trying to find the balance between all of those competing demands,” he said.
“The reception we’ve had in terms of people are just so beautiful, both the Gelorup community and the landowners, they understand what we’re doing,” he said.
“Some people have got issues with what we’re doing but they’ve been wonderful, very respectful community and been an absolute pleasure to deal with.”
Currently environmental investigations are taking place to determine the best possible routes with the least amount of impact on flora and fauna.
Once the investigations are completed the data will be analysed and processed before final decisions are made early next year.
Drop-in information sessions will be held in Bunbury, Eaton, Australind and Gelorup next week where community members will be able to meet the team, view project information and ask questions.
For more information visit project.mainroads.wa.gov.au/home/regional/south/Pages/bunbury.aspx.
