A Bunbury-based contractor has been given a golden opportunity to revitalise one of the city’s biggest tourist attractions.
Perkins Builders received the $8.3 million contract for the upgrade and expansion of the Dolphin Discovery Centre, on Koombana Foreshore.
Perkins’ South West contracts manager Clinton Wood said the new centre would fit seamlessly into the design and functionality of the newly-developed Koombana Waterfront.
“The Dolphin Discovery Centre is one of the major tourist attractions and we’re about to redevelop it and turn it into a facility that we’ll service going forward,” he said.
Perkins representatives met with Member for Bunbury Don Punch and South West Development Commission assistant director of infrastructure Ashley Clements to celebrate the announcement.
The interpretive centre and cafe will close in April but eco-cruises will remain available throughout the year.
Mr Punch said the aim was to turn the attraction into something that could be enjoyed all year round, not just in Summer.
“If we can build the number of Winter visitors up that will directly benefit the CBD, accommodation, further tourism opportunities and will help to position Bunbury as a really important tourism attraction.”
Dolphin Discovery Centre manager David Kerr said he was confident it would open up a world of possibilities in the years ahead.
“The centre will be more accessible to the community and visitors alike in that they won’t be paying to come here,” he said.
“Our aim is to have much greater awareness of our region in terms of what it offers from a tourism perspective, to pull more people down here, fill hotel rooms, and get more people to other experiences in the region and spend more time here.”
Mr Kerr said the centre wanted a “modern” and “eye-catching” design for precinct, with the group striving to incorporate a local indigenous ‘story’ into the final look.