The City of Bunbury and the Shire of Harvey have agreed in principle to commence the process of dissolving the Bunbury-Harvey Regional Council (BHRC) and work together on new governance and operating arrangements for the jointly owned Stanley Road Waste Management Facility.
The decision was endorsed by both councils at their respective October Ordinary Council Meetings.
A formal agreement will now be developed to guide shared decision-making throughout the transition.
There are no immediate changes for residents and businesses.
Stanley Road remains open, and customers can keep using the facility as they do now. Any future changes will be notified well in advance.
BHRC was established in 1990 as a joint waste management authority for the two councils.
It still operates under a 1989 Constitution Agreement that was designed for a different era.
Over time, changes in regulation, infrastructure needs and funding requirements have prompted both councils to review the current model.
They agreed that a new governance structure would provide greater certainty and better position the region to meet future waste management needs.
BHRC staff have been briefed on the decision, and both councils have committed to keeping employees informed at every stage of the transition.
Future management arrangements for Stanley Road have not yet been determined and will be worked through jointly as part of transition process.
Bunbury Mayor Jaysen Miguel said both councils recognised the community’s interest in the decision.
“We know people care about how ratepayer money is spent, how we look after the environment and what the future holds for waste services in our region,” Mayor Miguel said.
“These are fair questions, and transition process will address each of them. We’ll share more information as decisions are made. For now, the most important message for our community is a simple one. Stanley Road is open, and services continue as normal.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Stanley Road is open, and services continue usual with services unchanged. Residents and businesses can keep using the transfer station and recycling facilities as they do now.
The Bunbury-Harvey Regional Council (BHRC) was set up in 1990 to manage waste for the City of Bunbury and the Shire of Harvey. It still runs under an agreement written in 1989.
That agreement has no way to resolve disputes, no clear definition of each council’s share and no flexible way to make decisions. Since then, environmental rules, infrastructure needs and funding have all changed a great deal.
Both councils agree that BHRC can’t continue in its current model and have agreed in principle to dissolve BHRC and set up a clearer arrangement to run the Stanley Road Waste Management Facility. This will give more certainty and set the region up well for future waste services.
A Dissolution and Transition Agreement will now be prepared that works through how BHRC will be dissolved, supported by a Transition Working Group. The Working Group will include representatives from both councils and the BHRC.
The draft agreement is expected to go to both councils in the first quarter of 2027. Final approval will be subject to the agreement of the Minister for Local Government. The process is expected to take 12 months. We’ll update the community at each step.
No. This decision is about how regional waste infrastructure is managed. It doesn’t change household bin collections in Bunbury or Harvey. Your bin days stay the same.
There are no immediate changes to existing employment arrangements arising from this decision. Staff arrangements will be worked through carefully as part of the transition agreement. A staff representative will sit on the Transition Working Group, so staff have a direct voice in the process.
We thank BHRC staff for their work. They keep Stanley Road running every day, and they’ll keep doing that through the transition.
