The Shire of Busselton proposes to build a road, known as Ford Road, across the Vasse Estuary. The road is currently an unsealed road (track).

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has previously reported on the environmental acceptability of constructing the road (EPA Bulletin 940). In Bulletin 940, the EPA recommended that the proposal not be implemented as the proposal would not meet the EPA's objective in relation to waterbirds.

The Shire of Busselton, as proponent, appealed to the Minister for the Environment against the findings of Bulletin 940. Following consideration of this appeal, the Minister referred the proposal back to the EPA for further environmental assessment under the provisions of Section 43 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. The EPA subsequently undertook further, more detailed assessment of the factors relevant to the proposal.

This assessment reiterates the EPA's advice to the Minister for Environment that the EPA has concluded that the proposal cannot meet the EPA's environmental objective for waterbirds.