After a few challenging years there is a sense of our economy turning for the better in 2018.
That sense is backed up by recent economic data showing investor and consumer confidence in WA and elsewhere is gradually returning and Bunbury is no different.
The City Council has endeavoured over the past four years to maintain our services and provide for growth at levels we believe our community expects and can afford.
I believe our role has always been to facilitate the development of our City to encourage good initiatives and to get out of the way.
We do that by encouraging creative individuals to have a go and by working in partnership with the State and Federal Governments and representative bodies and groups active within our Bunbury Geographe region.
I anticipate more individuals will join those who have activated their creative ideas and invested in businesses to add to our City’s growing reputation as a progressive vibrant regional City
Working in partnership with the State Government will result in improvements to many community facilities throughout our community especially in Withers, Carey Park and Hay Park.
We will continue to include all suburbs in our planning to improve parks playgrounds and ensure accessibility for all.
We will see the start of more construction projects within and close to the City Centre.
These are important as they provide jobs, create demand for goods and services and add to our rate base.
This enables Council to further invest in community infrastructure and services to benefit our whole community.
There is also the possibility of some major industrial developments close to our City.
As we have seen at Koombana Foreshore the Transforming Bunbury Waterfront project will capture the imagination and interest in Bunbury during 2018.
Our events calendar will result in many thousands of visitors and I encourage all residents to be ambassadors to make then welcome.
I am excited by the opportunities.