A PLAN to develop Bunbury’s under-utilised Back Beach into a developed tourism hub has entered its final stages of approval.
City of Bunbury council adopted three planning documents aimed at rezoning the area last night.
The plan focuses on the strip of land between Wellington Street and Stockley Road, facing the Indian Ocean foreshore and features a piazza promenade with alfresco dining and area name change.
It will now go before the West Australian Planning Commission for endorsement.
The decision comes despite a impassioned plea from a resident, who questioned the suitability of having a tourism strip adjacent to Bunbury senior high school.
"People often forget how close these sites are to the centre of Bunbury, they are really within walking distance and many of the facilities that are available in the city centre and surrounds."
- TPG associate Murray Casselton
Perth based planning company The Planning Group WA prepared the plan for EG Funds Management, the owners of the site.
TPG associate Murray Casselton told council last week that the development would benefit the entirety of Bunbury.
“People often forget how close these sites are to the centre of Bunbury, they are really within walking distance and many of the facilities that are available in the city centre and surrounds,” Mr Casselton said.
Mr Casselton said he recalled looking at the development of the area while working in the city in the 1990s.
“[It is] old land that really has been under-utilised for many, many decades.”
Part of the amendment included allowing for a small bar.
In February the City advertised the three development proposals to the public, receiving 37 submissions.
City of Bunbury planning and development services director Bob Karaszkewych told the Bunbury Mail that submissions of support emphasised the positive benefits and opportunity that tourism mixed use development on the site presents.
“Those offering conditional support included reference to wanting reduced heights and concerns regarding proximity of entertainment uses,” Mr Karaszkewych said.
“Concerns [were] primarily raised about increased traffic, loss of amenity as a consequence of non-residential uses and potential loss of views from residential properties.”
