Home

Ring road —two picked

Headshot of Nicolette Barbas
Nicolette BarbasSouth Western Times
WA state transport minister Rita Saffioti.
Camera IconWA state transport minister Rita Saffioti. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper/The Sunday Times, Justin Benson-Cooper

Two groups have been shortlisted to submit proposals to build the $852 million Bunbury Outer Ring Road, bringing the project another step closer to construction.

The two consortia are the Forrest Alliance (comprising CPB Contractors, Carey MC, Densford Civil, GHD and BG&E) and Southwest Connex (comprising Acciona, NRW Contracting, MACA Civil, AECOM and Aurecon).

The project will include the construction of a 27km link connecting Forrest Highway near Treendale to Bussell Highway comprising three sections, northern, central and southern and is expected to create up to 5680 direct and indirect jobs during the construction phase.

With construction of the project to begin in 2021, it is anticipated an alliance contract will be awarded before the end of the year, subject to environmental and heritage approvals.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said this was the biggest transport infrastructure project ever planned for the South West and it would deliver huge benefits for the economy.

“Maximising local business procurement is a key objective for the project,” she said.

“The procurement process includes set criteria to ensure potential contractors incorporate initiatives to maximise local content.

“We have also opened a Local Capability Fund to support small and medium South West firms to tender for work on Bunbury Outer Ring Road.

“Significant mandatory targets for Aboriginal employment and Aboriginal business involvement will need to be met by the alliance contractors during the delivery of the project.”

Capel shire president Michael Southwell said he hoped the decision would be subject to State and Federal environmental approvals.

“I would hope that those approvals are not being treated as a fait accompli and that the environmental process would be allowed to take its course before the project proceeds,” Cr Southwell said.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails