Barytes Road Realignment

The project's Design is on track for completion by April 2025.

The Shire is currently in negotiations with Main Roads Western Australia (MRWA) to undertake the construction works.

Additionally, discussions are ongoing with CGL and KPA regarding Port Security and access to the weighbridge.

After engaging with the community and gathering valuable feedback, the Shire's Consultant provided the first 15% of the Concept Design for the Barytes Road Realignment project. Due to the complexity of the surrounding area and the potential effects on traffic flow, the Steering Group has met several times to review the design and identified the need for adjustments. These discussions are ongoing, with brainstorming sessions and workshops continuing to explore the best solutions.

To ensure this important project meets Wyndham’s future needs, we are carefully reviewing every detail. This process will guide the Consultant as they refine the design. We expect to provide the final direction to the Consultant by Christmas, after which they will progress toward completing the final 100% design. Our goal is to ensure that factors such as traffic safety and environmental impact are fully addressed for the best outcome.

As a result of these efforts, we now expect the final design to be completed by March 2025. We remain committed to delivering a project that meets the community’s expectations and benefits all stakeholders involved.

We will continue to provide updates as the project progresses and look forward to further community engagement in the months ahead.

Stuart Dyson from the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley introduced the project and Talis Consultants as the design consultants. He provided a brief introduction to the project, touching on the $4 million received in State funding for the upgrade works and outlining who the stakeholders were including members of the Steering Group.

The meeting addressed multiple concerns raised by the community, including why Meat Works Road, owned by CGL, is being upgraded by the Shire, details about the Preferred Road Alignment (Option 5), which is still in the early design stage, existing infrastructure and drainage issues that could potentially impact the project, sourcing of material and more. Stuart explained that the Group chose Option 5 based on construction costs, environmental impacts, and road safety. Attendees expressed concerns about road safety, the inclusion of port security in the criteria, and whether the $4 million budget would cover the entire project scope. While many questions and concerns were raised, there was also positive support for the project and optimism about the economic benefits it could bring to Wyndham through potential employment opportunities.

The two popular options for the road realignment were Option 1 and Option 5 (the “Preferred Road Alignment”). Minutes of the meeting can be found on the right hand column of this page.

You have an opportunity to have your say at the Community Consultation Workshop. Share your thoughts and seek further additional clarification on the project.