Enhancing Bunbury Waterfronts
The State Government, through the South West Development Commission, has spent more than $7.4 million to upgrade some of Bunbury's main waterfront areas.
The transformation complements a current boom in urban redevelopment in the city, particularly on the waterfront. The international Outrigger Group is proposing to build an $80 million resort on the Bunbury beachfront and Kareelya Property Group undertaking a $33 million redevelopment of the old Bunbury silos.
Improvements to the waterfronts undertaken as part of the program included landscaping and redevelopment along the city's main Back Beach and at the Wyalup/Rocky Point area; improvements to Reserve 9997 (an oceanfront lot below Bunbury Senior High School) and upgrades to the Koombana Bay beachfront.
Back Beach
The South West Development Commission worked with the City of Bunbury to undertake the work. The City of Bunbury was project manager and elected to build a rock sea wall to protect the Back Beach from erosion.
The project was completed earlier this year and the State Government through the South West Development Commission contributed $5.8 m. towards this project.
As well as the sea wall, new facilities such as car parking, family park, a picnic plaza area, pathways, shelters, lighting and a new divided boulevarde were developed.
Wyalup/Rocky Point
Wyalup/Rocky Point received $1.2 m. in funding support from the Commission to create a large parkland behind Bunbury's iconic Basalt Rocks.
The project involved relocating roads away from the coastline, constructing new public change rooms, picnic shelters, barbecues, lighting, car parking, dual use paths and extensive protected grassed areas. The park has become a focal point for visitors and locals alike who visit the Beach and a favourite for outdoor wedding and other celebrations.
Koombana Bay
The Commission has also attracted funding for the Dolphin Discovery Centre, Mangrove boardwalk and parklands, and the park around the old silos building.
The Koombana Foreshore project which forms an important link for tourists between the CBD and the Dolphin Discovery Centre received $200,000 to install Dual use paths, lighting , Landscaping and dune stabilisation.
Reserve 9997
Reserve 9997 has been transformed from a degraded space below Bunbury Senior High School into a combined open parkland and recreational sporting facility. Tennis courts, netball and basketball courts and a change room facility were constructed as part of a $200,000 funding agreement between the City of Bunbury and the Commission.