Road, rail upgrades 'key to growth'

Unlocking Bunbury Port’s capacity and upgrading rail between Collie and Bunbury are key to WA’s first regional freight infrastructure blueprint released last week.

The State has devised a long-term infrastructure plan for WA’s regional roads, rail lines and port authorities.

The plan has pointed to a number of key priorities for the South West, including doubling the capacity of Bunbury Port, upgrading the Collie to Brunswick rail line and duplicating the line between Brunswick Junction and Bunbury Inner Harbour.

Also named were improvements to Coalfields Highway and South Western Highway and completion of Bunbury Outer Ring Road.

Freight load on the Brookfield-managed rail lines is expected to increase and major upgrades are forecast for the Collie-to-Bunbury line.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell said high freight growth in the South West would require infrastructure capacity upgrades and road expansion projects.

“Our freight and logistics network is the lifeblood of WA’s economy — many of the priority projects identified are essential to further support and sustain nationally significant economic activity, with both local and national benefits,” he said.

Mr Buswell said the plan “sets an enduring foundation to inform and build investor and industry confidence” as well as creating a framework for developing the State’s freight network.

Bunbury Wellington Economic Alliance chief Matt Granger said it was pleasing to note key regional freight infrastructure projects, which the alliance had advocated for years, featured in the plan.

“These are the projects known under the banner of Roads to Export and are fundamental to achieve the projected doubling of the capacity of the Bunbury Port,” Mr Granger said.

The plan will help guide Government investment and involved consultation with Main Roads WA, local governments and more than 70 private sector stakeholders.