Thousands of tonnes of rock have been placed to create Bunbury’s new breakwater
Bunbury’s waterfront transformation has reached an important milestone, with nearly 300,000 tonnes of rock placed at low level to complete full length construction of the new 460 metre northern breakwater at the Bunbury Casuarina Boat Harbour.
The new Bunbury breakwater is part of a $69.2 million project to transform the WA city’s waterfront area.
The milestone follows the completion of dredging late last year to prepare the seabed footprint for the breakwater.
The new structure is already providing increased sheltering at the harbour ahead of winter and, in parallel, work to reclaim land at the harbour is progressing for the future boat lifting and servicing lease sites.
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It’s estimated a further 67,000 tonnes of rock will be needed to build the breakwater to full height, creating a sheltered harbour with capacity to house up to 300 future boat pens and become a regional hub for the marine industry.
The rock used for the project is being sourced from quarries at Roelands, Byford, Shenton Ridge and Jarrahdale by Western Australian companies WA Limestone Contracting and Italia Stone Group, who were awarded the contract for the $69.2 million breakwater works last July.
Completion of the breakwater at full height is expected by the end of the year and a new $4 million universal access fishing platform will be built on the northern side adjacent to a precinct supporting the needs of users, carers and visitors.
“It’s an exciting time as we see this critical piece of coastal infrastructure rising out of the water, reshaping the harbour and becoming a reality,” Transport Minister Rita Saffioti says.
“This is an ambitious project with many opportunities already being embraced by the private sector and these will see significant long-term benefits for the local community and South West.”