Transforming Bunbury's Waterfront Stage 2 Casuarina Drive Redevelopment
The $10.8 million Casuarina Drive Redevelopment will:
- Enhance public amenity through the creation of social spaces including picnic areas, BBQ facilities, informal seating areas and playground.
- Create a waterfront promenade with improved pedestrian and cycle links.
- Install a service corridor and upgrade of associated services (power, water and telecommunications).
- Extend, realign and upgrade Casuarina Drive road infrastructure and expand car parking.
What does the project involve?
The program has been divided into three distinct phases of work:
- Scope 1 - Landscaping and revitalisation works in the southern portion of Casuarina Harbour.
- Scope 2 - Civil works including road, parking and services upgrades.
- Scope 3 - Landscaping and revitalisation works for the remaining length of Casuarina Harbour and Casuarina Beach.
View the Concept Plan
Scope 1 Works - Completed
Environmental Industries completed the first scope. They partnered with local sub-contractors and suppliers to deliver landscaping and revitalisation works in the southern portion of Casuarina Harbour foreshore.
Scope 1 has revitalised the southern Casuarina Drive precinct and offers modern public amenities to locals and visitors, activating the precinct and providing a new destination for tourists and residents.
The first phase of works include:
- Upgraded playground facilities and new shade sails;
- BBQ and picnic shelters;
- Beach showers and grassed areas;
- Improved lighting;
- Terraced steps and amphitheatre style seating;
- Upgraded beach promenade pathways for pedestrians and cyclists; and
- Improved beach access paths to connect restaurants and businesses.
Will there be any fences near the road?
There are no plans to provide fencing between pathways and Casuarina Drive.
Will there be more shade on the grassed areas, and on the playground?
Additional shade sails have been installed in the playground. More shade will be provided to the waterfront as planted trees mature.
Who is responsible for issues related to the public toilets?
For issues related to the public toilets, please contact City of Bunbury via email at
What public consultation was carried out on the playground?
The new playground replaces the original timber structure, which no longer met standards and was suffering from termite damage.
During the planning phase, general consultation took place, with feedback resulting in the current, more accessible play structure.
Why did the construction take longer than anticipated?
Construction takes time; and well above average rainfall and supply shortages (caused by COVID-19) impacted the overall delivery timeframe.
Are jet skis allowed in the area?
The area is boating prohibited, as per the marked buoys. It is monitored daily in peak times, and Department of Transport (DoT) has adjusted the area recently. Vessels in the area can be reported to DoT directly.
What were the rationales behind the cover design over the picnic tables?
The shelters were designed to provide shady seating areas and are not intended to provide cover for rain. The concept was proposed and accepted by the community during the community consultation process.
Why are the shade sails on the grass area positioned on an angle?
The shade sails (installed seasonally by the City of Bunbury) provide shade over the grassed areas at the hottest part of any day, being midday. Shade cover will shift to the beach and lower grassed area as the afternoon progresses.
Why did the redevelopment remove some of the mature bushes in the picnic area?
Several existing mature trees were retained and new plantings have occurred, including native coastal low-growing species.
Existing bushes and shrubs were removed for various reasons. Some were in poor health, while others were removed to increase passive surveillance of the public open space (POS) and improve the aesthetics of the area overall. Improvement of and impacts to the view corridors of existing residents were also considered.
The $4.5M upgrade of this area has created more spaces for family picnics and has also resulted in more grassed areas where families can engage in outdoor activities.
Scope 2 Works - Commenced
What does Scope 2 include and what are the timings?
Scope 2 focused on upgrades to the road, drainage, car parking and services along Casuarina Drive to the Bunbury Outer Harbour redevelopment area (known as TBW Stage 3).
The upgrades have replaced ageing power, water and telecommunications infrastructure, and consolidated it into a single services corridor. The services corridor will also have capacity to accommodate future sewer and gas needs in Stage 3.
Casuarina Drive (north of The Strand) will also be upgraded to improve access to and from Stage 3, and formalise parking, including an off-street carpark in the existing unsealed gravel carpark footprint. The works (road and carparking) commenced in December 2022 and are expected to be completed in early 2023.
Landscaping/ planting around the newly constructed road and carpark will be undertaken in Scope 3.
Who do I contact about Scope 2 works?
If any issues arise during the works, please get in touch with Leeuwin Civil’s dedicated community liaison representative – David Evans, Chief Operating Officer on 9754 7944, or by email
Will access to Casuarina Drive be affected?
Traffic controls will be in place to manage vehicles accessing the Outer Harbour, boat ramp and fishing jetty. The Contractor is required to provide a traffic management plan that identifies the control measures to be used and also detail the transport route for construction materials. To minimise disruptions to the community, port operations, tenants in the Outer Harbour, and users of boat ramps, at least one lane on Casuarina Drive will be maintained at all times during the works.
How will the works affect access to Casuarina Beach near the Casuarina Drive Lookout?
Access to the beach will continue to be via the established footpath north of no. 27 The Strand, however may be subject to temporary short-term closures during the upgrades for safety reasons.
The unsealed gravel car park in front of the Casuarina Drive - lookout will be unavailable during periods of the works program. Alternative parking during these times include; on street parking along Casuarina Drive, off street parking at the City of Bunbury Jetty Road Causeway car park, and Department of Transport’s Casuarina Boat Harbour car park.
How will local traffic and truck movements be managed?
There will be an increase in trucks moving through the immediate area as materials are removed from and delivered to site. No oversize deliveries are expected and the majority of deliveries will be via Casuarina Drive.
How will the works affect parking in the area?
During the works, the contractors will park all vehicles on site. There should be no additional parking congestion in local streets.
The parallel car bays on Casuarina Drive and Department of Transport’s car park adjacent to the boat launching ramp will not be impacted by these works.
How will you manage dust during construction?
Dust control is a key part of our planning, and something we take very seriously. A Construction Management Plan is in place, and the Contractors will need to follow strict dust suppression measures throughout construction works. All dust management measures will be in accordance with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation guidelines.
How will you manage noise during construction?
Unavoidable construction noise will be limited to the proposed working hours of 7:00am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday and 7:00am to 4:00pm on Saturdays. No work is planned to be carried out on Sunday or Public Holidays.
How will you manage vibrations during construction?
Vibration control is a key part of our planning, and something we take very seriously. A Construction Management Plan is in place, and the contractors will need to follow strict measures throughout construction works.
If necessary, residents fronting the work area will be contacted separately by the Contractor to arrange property condition surveys prior to works commencing. The Contractor will assess all properties that may be affected by construction works.
Why are works scheduled during the summer period?
Due to the nature of the works it is necessary to avoid inclement weather (where reasonably possible). Scheduling works over the Spring/ Summer seasons will assist in mitigating delays associated with the heavy rainfall and high winds experienced in Bunbury during the winter months.
What will happen to the rail tracks and other historically significant assets?
The existing rail tracks will be carefully removed and stored during construction. Their reinstatement in Casuarina Drive is currently under assessment. If they cannot be reinstated in their original position, they will be retained by the City of Bunbury for future use on the TBW project or another City of Bunbury project.
The existing public art, and the Port Breakwater Memorial Plaque will be carefully stored during construction and will be reinstated upon completion of the works.
How has feedback from local residents and businesses been included in the plans?
The landscape concept plans were advertised for public comment in October 2018 and again in February 2019. We have included as much of this feedback as possible into the new landscaping design concept, including:
- New wider pedestrian and casual bicycle pathways along the waterfront;
- Improved universal access pathways to the beach;
- More grassed open space and landscaped areas;
- More shade and shelter;
- Dune revegetation and re-establishment;
- Coastal protection (sand drift, wind blocks and dune erosion);
- New BBQ, picnic and social areas;
- Upgrades to amenity blocks including toilets and beach showers; and
- Improved formal parking areas and more parking bays.
Will there be further opportunities for local businesses?
Yes, the South West Development Commission's Local Content Program Registration of Interest remains open. This registration calls for businesses able to provide services relating to landscaping and site works, or the supply of materials for these works.
The register is provided to prospective head contractors through tender information packages. Engagement of local businesses by the prospective head contractor is encouraged via the tender assessment criteria.
The Registration of Interest will remain open until the Scope 3 landscaping and revitalisation works have been tendered. Visit www.swdc.wa.gov.au for more information.
If I register my interest, will I be given work?
The registration process is not a guarantee of work. It aims to connect prospective head contractors with local sub-contractors and suppliers, by making them aware of the resources available locally.
Why should I register?
Registration is not mandatory. However, it is an opportunity for you to express your interest and identify the expertise available within your business. The register aims to make it easier for proponents to engage local businesses, by making them aware of the resources available locally.
Can my business tender for the works directly?
DevelopmentWA has a number of established pre-qualified Contractor Registers and Panels to assist with planning and development of major land and infrastructure projects across WA. The prequalification classifies contractors commensurate with their technical and managerial expertise, financial capacity and previous performance to ensure only appropriately skilled and experienced companies submit tenders to DevelopmentWA in certain categories of contracts.
Due to estimated value of the works, only Tier 1 and 2 contractors from the DevelopmentWA Contractor Register and Panels will be invited to tender.
The tender assessment weightings will encourage the successful tenderer to engage local sub-contractors and suppliers as part of its workforce. Each tender process will be conducted in accordance with DevelopmentWA procurement policies and overseen by a probity auditor.
Can my business be part of DevelopmentWA's Contractor Registers and Panels?
For more information to be part of DevelopmentWA Contractor Registers and Panels, please visit our Supplier Expression of Interest page.
How can I stay informed on this project?
For the latest updates on this project, join the Transforming Bunbury's Waterfront mailing list or follow the Facebook page.
