The Transforming Bunbury’s Waterfront project continues to make significant progress in 2025, as well as uncovering an amazing, unexpected find… Some highlights so far this year for the project include:
Stage 2B Casuarina Drive Redevelopment
Dune fencing around the majority of the dunes at BP Beach and along Casuarina Drive, which is designed to protect the dunes and reduce sand drift onto the pathways, is now complete. A big thanks to local company Wilgee Civil, an Aboriginal-owned business located in Davenport.
The 300m of retaining walls works on Casuarina Drive has also been completed. The works comprising approx. 15,000 limestone blocks was carried out by Southwest contractor Leeuwin Civil.
A preferred local contractor will continue works on the hard and soft landscaping behind these walls. The works include the planting of trees and shrubs, paths connecting to the Stage 3 area, stairs and provision of access to the beach.
Andrew Frazer Designs’ artwork (in collaboration with Jake Coghlan & Peter Jago) is well underway for the sculptural work that will book-end Jetty Baths Park. These artworks will encourage people to venture between each end of the precinct and will pay tribute to the ancient basalt landscape while also taking inspiration from Bunbury’s iconic lighthouse and its unique history.
Work will continue until late 2025 with safety fencing and signage in place for the safety of workers and the public. We thank everyone for their patience until these works are completed.
The Casuarina Drive Redevelopment is a project managed by DevelopmentWA
Stage 3 – Fishing Platform
Fantastic News! We’ve completed the first look visuals of the planned universal access fishing platform on the new northern breakwater at CBH. The platform will be located on the northern side about one third along the 460-metre breakwater, currently under construction. The platform will include 10 wheelchair bays, seating, sun and wind shelters and lighting for evening fishing.
An elevated gangway will link the platform to the adjacent landscaped precinct to be developed on the breakwater. The precinct will include universal access toilets and a changing facility for people with disability, superlong universal access parking for maxi-taxis with rear wheelchair loading ramps, bus parking and areas for recreation.
While the design of the landscaped precinct is continuing, detailed planning for the platform has commenced. It’s envisaged the platform and adjacent precinct will be ready for use in 2027.
Stage 3 – Northern Breakwater
Construction of the new 460-metre-long northern breakwater at Casuarina Boat Harbour (CBH) continues with more than 360,000 tonnes of rock being transported to site from quarries at Roelands, Byford, Shenton Ridge and Jarrahdale. 22,000 tonnes of armour rock and 208, 000 tonnes of core rock have been placed so far. The two groynes have now been joined, and the reclamation fill is in place, creating the triangle of new land which will be the boat lifting and servicing lease sites. The breakwater is due for completion towards the end of 2025.
To limit disruption and ensure safety, work on site has been restricted to weekdays between 7am and 6pm and a 40-kilometre speed limit has been adopted by the contractor for their trucks as they travel along Casuarina Drive near Jetty Baths.
A reminder yellow ‘special marks’ have been deployed around the work front at the breakwater head, vessels are required to navigate around the outside (to the east) of these markers and keep clear of the works. Red and green port and starboard marks have also been deployed, marking the new navigation channel for Casuarina Boat Harbour. For further safety information for skippers visit South West Notices.
The work is underway by joint venture WA Limestone Contracting and Italia Stone Group to deliver the largest coastal infrastructure contract ($69.2 million) ever awarded by DoT in WA.
Stage 3 – Anchor Find
What an amazing find, when workers discovered a large, old anchor at the work front of the Northern Breakwater in January. The WA Museum (WAM) were consulted and visited site to help to determine the possible heritage value. While the mooring anchor lost in the 60’s or70’s does have historical (and aesthetic) value, it is not required to be in a museum. Taking advice from the WAM on preservation the DoT will display the anchor somewhere in the completed precinct in the harbour.
A big thanks to the WAM for their assistance, which follows on from work last year commissioned by DoT where maritime archaeologists from the Maritime Heritage Department at the WAM collaborated with a commercial dive team from Engineering Technology Services
Works commencing soon
The City of Bunbury, supported by the Department of Transport, were recently awarded a grant through the Disaster Ready Fund to upgrade the rock protection structures of the storm surge barrier (in The Plug). Refurbishing the rock walls will stabilise the banks of The Plug and ensure the storm surge barrier remains effective. The work means Bunbury is better prepared for and protected from future natural disasters.
The dilapidated groyne at the west end of the Koombana foreshore will be refurbished as part of the TBW project. The refurbishment works will reinstate safe public access along the structure and ensure it remains effective in stabilising Koombana Bay beach and preventing sand from infilling the channel at The Plug.
Both projects are scheduled over winter for minimal disruption to the community. The works program will deliver many long-term benefits for users and the wider community and while every effort is being made to limit the disruption, we ask people for their understanding while the vision for the harbour is made a reality.
Harbour manager and delivery agency, the Department of Transport (DoT), is working closely with lead agency the South West Development Commission for the $78.1 million 3.1 Stage of Transforming Bunbury’s Waterfront.
For works updates visit our Facebook page or website Transforming Bunbury’s Waterfront – South West Development Commission (swdc.wa.gov.au)
