Transport Systems in Australia's South West
Roads
The South West Region has an extensive road network of safe sealed roads, in many cases with dual carriageways.
The region's major centre, Bunbury, is just two hours by road from Bunbury to the State's capital city, Perth.
Governments have made a commitment to develop the Peel Deviation with work commencing in 2006. This will involve the extension of the Kwinana Freeway to Mandurah and new road alignment which will allow traffic to bypass the Dawesville Peninsula and the majority of the built up area in the City of Mandurah, thereby improving access and travel times between Bunbury and Perth.
Currently, main road links to the north via the South Western Highway and Old Coast Road.
The South Western Highway also forms part of National Route 1 traversing the Shire of Manjimup to the City of Albany in the Great Southern Region.
A large proportion of the population in the South West is located within an hour’s drive of Bunbury.
Rail
The rail network is a significant transport system within the South West.
Bunbury is the centre of the network, which connects to towns and industry areas in the Region, the Bunbury Port Harbour and the Perth metropolitan area.
The Australind passenger train service operates a regular, seven-day per week service between Bunbury and Perth.
The affordable fares make it an attractive alternative to road.
The railroad depot for the South West Region is centred at Picton near Bunbury and the narrow gauge rail network radiates out from there in five main streams:
- North to Perth via Brunswick Junction and Harvey
- East to Collie via Brunswick Junction
- South to Boyanup with lines to Manjimup and Capel
- North-West to the Port of Bunbury
- West to the Bunbury passenger terminal
Rail cargo transport consists mainly of bulk commodities consisting of coal, alumina, woodchips, caustic soda, mineral sands and fertiliser traffic.
The Australian Railroad Group (ARG) carries bulk commodities from the South West Region to the Port of Bunbury.
A $24 million upgrade is planned for the Greenbushes freight line which will complement the construction of a new woodchip mill at the Bunbury Port, currently being proposed by WA Plantation Resources. The number of heavy haulage trucks on the South Western Highway between Bunbury and Greenbushes will be significantly reduced by this upgrade.
Port Facilities
The Port of Bunbury currently consists of six berths and can readily be expanded to accommodate in excess of 13 berths, as the region's industries grow. The port is located within the protected waters of Koombana Bay and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
At 12.2 meters deep, it is capable of handing Panamax sized vessels; however a deepening of the port to 15 meters is currently under consideration.
Bunbury Port handles products ranging from bulk minerals, woodchips, alumina and coal, to chemicals and general cargo. Among its major clients are BHP Billiton subsidiary Worsley Alumina, Alcoa of Australia, WA Plantation Resources and mineral sands producers Iluka Resources, TiWest and Bemax Cable Sands.
The port is capable of shipping and storing containers and has developed plans for container storage and handling facilities.
The Port of Bunbury had land in excess of 500 hectares which allows for expansion for port-related industries.
Total trade through the Port in 2008/09 was 13.3 million tonnes.
The Inner harbour is serviced by a narrow gauge rail line as well as having road transport access where as the outer harbour is serviced by road transport only.
Planning for a dedicated transport corridor to the inner harbour from the proposed Bunbury outer ring road is currently underway. The road will cater for increasing volumes of commuter, tourist and commercial traffic coming to Bunbury, and traveling to areas further south.
In addition, a casting basin is available at the Port for the construction of concrete offshore structures for the oil and gas industry.
Air
The South West Region is serviced by a regional airport at Busselton, an airport at Bunbury and sealed airstrips at Manjimup, Margaret River and Augusta.
Busselton Regional Airport is expected to act as a focal point for the tourism industry in the South West.