Major infrastructure project at Bunbury’s Turkey Point gets Environmental Protection Authority approval

A major Bunbury infrastructure project is set to move ahead after a year-long delay, with the Environmental Protection Authority recommending it be approved for construction. The $15 million project to construct a bridge and an access road over the Preston River at Turkey Point was put on hold in January last year after the EPA found significant issues with the original proposal. The State Government-funded project, which was put forward by Southern Ports Authority, is now awaiting the final green light from Environment Minister Reece Whitby. The new dual-use path, bridge and road, will link Estuary Drive to Turkey Point. The move has been praised by Bunbury MLA Don Punch, who said he was looking forward to the project moving ahead. “I am pleased the thorough assessments of this project are now complete and the building of this important piece of infrastructure that will give our community easy access to the recreation opportunities at Turkey Point and support the efficient growth of the Port — which will create jobs and enhance our economic development — can get under way,” he said. Construction of the project, which is set to create 150 new local jobs, was meant to begin in February last year. EPA chair Professor Matthew Tonts said significant mitigation measures had now been incorporated in the designs. “The road was realigned to be closer to the existing rail bridge, which reduced the extent of the vegetative clearing and avoided fragmentation of the ecologically significant coastal saltmarsh,” he said. “This change also reduced impacts to black cockatoo foraging habitat and removed the loss of potential breeding trees.” The EPA report will is now open for a three-week public appeal period, which closes on February 22.