THE FIRST rocks have been placed in what will be a new 460-metre long northern breakwater at the Port of Bunbury.
The $69.2 million project follows the start of dredging to prepare the foundation for the structure and clear the future entrance channel to the harbour.
WA Premier Roger Cook and Regional Development Minister Don Punch were in Bunbury on 11 October to mark the occasion of the placement of the first rocks at Casuarina Boat Harbour.
The breakwater will create the sheltered waters required to establish the precinct as a regional hub for the marine industry.
The breakwater works are a joint venture between Western Australian companies WA Limestone Contracting and Italia Stone Group who were awarded the contract in July. Dredging to remove soft sediment from the construction footprint started last month and dredging to prepare the foundation and remove material from the harbour entrance will continue until later this year.
The breakwater is expected to be completed in 2025 and will feature a new $4 million universal access fishing platform. The platform will form part of a wider precinct, including accessible changerooms and toilets, shade and landscaping.
More than 360,000 tonnes of rock will be transported to the site from quarries at Roelands, Byford and Jarrahdale.
To limit disruption and ensure safety, work on site has been restricted to weekdays between 7am and 6pm and a 40-kilometre per hour speed limit has been adopted by the contractor for their trucks as they travel along Casuarina Drive near Jetty Baths.
The breakwater is part of the $78.1 million Stage 3, Phase 1 Transforming Bunbury’s Waterfront project.
WA Premier Roger Cook in a media release issued on 11 October, said the project is delivering critical new infrastructure to activate the harbour as a regional marine hub, helping to grow the local economy and creating great jobs for the future.
Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, David Michael said he was looking forward to Bunbury having a future marine servicing precinct that will provide commercial opportunities, as well as delivering an improved area for locals and visitors to enjoy.
“We’re implementing a works program that will have many long-term benefits for the local community. While every effort is being made to limit the disruption, we ask people for their understanding while the vision for the harbour is made a reality.
“Once complete, there will be vehicle and bus access to the fishing platform and pedestrian access to the full length of the breakwater.”
