Bunbury storm surge barrier set for more than $8.3 million upgrade after new Federal Government funding

A barrier designed to stop flooding from taking place in parts of Bunbury is set to receive a more than $8.3 million upgrade. The Bunbury storm surge barrier, located at the entrance of the Leschenault Inlet, will see rock protection upgraded after the project received more than $3.7 million from the Federal Government’s Disaster Ready Fund last week. It will add to the $2.8m in State Government funding, alongside $1.12m from the City of Bunbury and in-kind contributions. The Department of Transport is working with the council on the project, which is designed to reduce the future risk of low-lying parts of Bunbury being flooded in the event of a storm. The storm surge barrier was first installed in 1980 after parts of East Bunbury were inundated during Cyclone Alby in 1978. Bunbury was recently listed in a Department of Transport-commissioned report as one of three areas at high risk of coastal inundation, alongside Busselton and Carnarvon. Maritime planning director Colleen Thompson said the department was working with partners to better manage the threat and reduce the risk of damage to infrastructure and costly impacts. “The report gives us a better understanding of the threat of coastal inundation and will help prioritise work by local managers,” she said. The report identified 23 locations at risk, though work could be undertaken to reduce the inundation threat at 13 of the locations.