City Centre Eastern Link - Update
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Published on 29 October 2019
Local contractors Leeuwin Civil Pty Ltd have been awarded the contract to construct the City Centre Eastern Link and work on site has commenced.
Stage 1 of the works will provide a second entry point into the Busselton City Centre via a new link road and a new bridge across Vasse River. This stage of the project incorporates construction of roundabouts at Cammilleri Street / Peel Terrace and Causeway Road / Rosemary Drive. These works will predominately utilise the old rail corridor and minimal disruption to the existing traffic network and accessibility to surrounding residents and businesses is expected.
The old scout and girl-guide buildings situated at Rotary Park are being demolished failing several attempts by the City to secure interest in the free possession of the buildings through public tender processes. The demolition of these buildings involves the professional removal of asbestos materials.
Seventeen poplar trees will be required to be removed to progress these works. Poplar Trees suitable for transplanting will be relocated to other spots along Causeway Road along with additional mature saplings. This, along with a planned third avenue of Poplar trees which will be planted during Stage 2 works, will ensure the tree-line appeal of this key town centre entry point is maintained.
Up to 0.49 hectares of predominately disused rail corridor will be cleared to make way for the new bridge across the Vasse River and the new link road. Seven mature Peppermint Trees will be removed from the river embankment which the City concedes is an unfortunate loss. The City has done all it can to reduce the number of trees impacted by assessing all options for routes, minimising the footprint of the works and complying with all environmental approvals including:
Preparing a Possum Management Plan with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and engaging fauna experts to ensure any Western Ringtail Possums in the area are sensitively relocated prior to works. Construction of a possum bridge to allow for the safe movement of possums across Vasse River and eastern link once constructed, and Revegetation and protection of habitat in the vicinity of the area being disrupted, in excess of the area being removed ( i.e. around Peel Terrace and Rotary Park public open space and East Barnard Park).As a direct offset for the loss of these seven mature Peppermint trees the City is required to plant 428 Peppermint trees along with other native vegetation in the vicinity. This will, overtime, result in habitat that is significantly larger in area to that currently found in the area earmarked for clearing as part of these works.
The City has an ongoing revegetation program, part of which is aimed at the revegetation of habitat areas in and around town centres. Over the past decade thousands of Peppermint Trees of various size and maturity have been planted along road verges and in areas of public open space. The town of Busselton, in particular, is significantly greener than it was 2 – 3 decades ago.
The Carter’s Freshwater Mussels that were located in the Vasse River and listed as critically endangered in the environmental report have been removed by researchers from Murdoch University. These mussels have been relocated for the duration of the works and will be returned to the Vasse River once works are completed.
Stage 1 works are scheduled from October 2019 to July 2020. Working days are Monday to Saturday, excluding public holidays. Works will commence no earlier than 7:00am and cease no later than 6:00pm. All efforts will be undertaken to reduce noise and vibration during the works, and works will comply with the City of Busselton and the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations.
The pedestrian footbridge across Vasse River (at Peel Terrace / Cammilleri Street) will be closed during some stages of the works. It will, however, be opened up whenever possible.
The Objectives out lined in this media release are aligned to Key Goal Area 5 in the City of Busselton’s Strategic Community Plan (Review 2019): Transport that is smart, connective and accessible.
Photo: Professional removal of asbestos from the existing buildings at Rotary Park (no photo credit required)
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