Bunbury Farmers Market to reduce business loss as a result of Outer Ring Road

Estimated for completion by early 2024, the proposed Outer Ring Road will be a 27 kilometre highway that bypasses Bunbury and links back onto the Bussell Highway.

The outer ring road is expected to start just before the Paris Road turn off on the Forrest Highway.

As a result, cars will have to turn off at the roundabout to stay on the Forrest Highway if they don't want to use the outer ring road.

Bunbury Farmers Market Owner Kevin Opferkuch said the Market was predicted to lose 20 to 25 per cent of business once the Forrest Highway interchange had come into effect.

"On data we took from when the Market was located in town, we found that this per cent of our business came from Perth customers, which is a lot," Mr Opferkuch said.

When the project was originally proposed in 2018, Mr Opferkuch said the Market along with several other businesses submitted their 'displeasure' of the project to the City of Bunbury.

The project however continued as planned with construction beginning early 2021.

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"We are very close to the Forrest Highway so it's very convenient for folk to drop in and see us as they do. Now whether they will take the time to come and see us when they have to deviate, we don't know. We'd like to think they would but you know what folk are like, they like to get from A to B as quickly as possible."

To help offset the potential loss in business thanks to the Outer Ring Road, the Market will in a few months introduce a 'fresh collect' offer where customers can first buy their produce online and then pick it up from fresh collect 'pods' throughout the South West.

Mr Opferkuch said the Market was also looking at additional stores in both Vasse and Perth.

"We're looking at all sorts of options strategically including looking at different sites. We're certainly not just going to sit here, we're doing all sorts of things to help minimise the loss."

"What percentage that will come off the new roundabout and see us? We're not sure. But we might be pleasantly surprised."

For more information on the Bunbury Outer Ring Road, visit https://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/projects-initiatives/projects/regional/bunbury-outer-ring-road/.