Recently Closed Consultations

Busselton jetty | S43 prohibition on fishing (wire trace) order

I can advise that the above report was considered by the Council at its meeting on 17 April 2024 (C2404/93).

COUNCIL DECISION

Following thorough consideration and community consultation the Council has endorsed the report. As a result, the City will provide advice to the Minister for Fisheries regarding the positioning of boundaries for the proposed inclusion of the Busselton Jetty and its surroundings within the s43 Prohibition on Fishing (Wire Trace) Order.

A copy of the Council Agenda and Minutes will be available within the next 2 weeks on the City’s website at the following link:

Minutes and Agendas » City of Busselton

The City of Busselton is currently reviewing the Local Heritage Survey (formerly Municipal Heritage Inventory) and has engaged an external heritage consultant. Thank you for those that submitted a property or tree application. These submissions will be reviewed against criteria by the external heritage consultant, alongside all current properties on the survey. Based on assessment some properties may increase or decrease in 'significance' at the end of the review.

Further updates will be provided once the review is complete.

Busselton jetty | S43 prohibition on fishing (wire trace) order

Council Meeting

The City would like to advise that the above report will be considered by Council at its meeting scheduled for 5.30pm 17 April 2024. The Council meeting agenda including a copy of the officer's report is available for viewing on the City’s website Minutes and Agendas » City of Busselton(External link).

Public Agenda Presentations

Council meetings are preceded by an Agenda Presentation Session held one week before the Council meeting, on the 10 April 2024, from 5.30pm. at which time Councillors can seek clarification from City officers on any items on the Agenda for the following week's Council Meeting. Should you wish to do so, you can make a presentation to Council during the Public Agenda Presentation by contacting the Governance Administration Officer, Joanne Barrett-Lennard on (08) 9781 0338 or Jo.BarrettLennard@busselton.wa.gov.au(External link). The presentation is limited to a period of five minutes unless the Presiding Member grants an extension of time.

Alternatively, a person who demonstrates that they are a party with an interest in any item listed on the agenda may seek to present to Council next week at the Council meeting during the time in the meeting that is allocated for that purpose. Presentations will be limited to a period of 5 minutes unless the person is granted an extension by the presiding member. Councillors, through the presiding member, may question a person addressing the Council, but no debate or general discussion will be permitted.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact the City on (08) 9781 0444 or Enquiries - City of Busselton city@busselton.wa.gov.au(External link).

The first round of consultation for the Dunsborough Town Centre Design Guidelines has concluded, thank you to everyone who provided comments. The results will be analysed and a character audit prepared, before round 2 of consultation will take place in the form of workshops in the coming months. Further updates will be provided in due course and information can be found on the project page.

The City of Busselton has received an increase in reported feedback and concerns from community members about shark fishing off the Busselton Jetty. Over the last two years the City has received notification of the targeting of tiger sharks off the Jetty and tiger shark carcasses being left on the ocean floor, potentially increasing interactions between sharks, swimmers and divers.

The State Government is responsible for the regulation of fishing activities under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994.

In December 2023, the City wrote to the Minister for Fisheries, the Hon. Don Punch MLA, after the announcement of a prohibition on shark fishing within the entire metropolitan area, requesting the Minister considers adding the Busselton Jetty in the Prohibition on Fishing (Wire Trace) Order 2022. The Minister has requested the City works with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to identify appropriate areas that could be considered by the Minister as appropriate for the introduction of a wire trace ban.

In the interest of protecting the community, divers, recreational swimmers, marine life and our beaches, the City is considering requesting a ban on shark fishing off the Busselton Jetty and other areas in the locality.

Community consultation closed on 27 March and a report will be prepared for Council.

Following lengthy and detailed consultation with multiple sporting clubs, the Dunsborough Lakes Sporting Precinct is set to receive a new multi-sport pavilion for the enjoyment of all users. Initially earmarked as part of the plan for the new Precinct, this pavilion will be built to serve the Dunsborough sporting community for years to come. Several options were considered and assessed as part of the process, but with the support of the majority of clubs using the precinct, Council confirmed its commitment to the preferred location at their meeting on 20 March 2024.

The City thanks all clubs and community members who have worked together over several years to progress this new precinct’s development. The Dunsborough Lakes Sporting Precinct Pavilion will mark the completion of the first priority project within the City’s 10 year Sport and Recreation Facilities Strategy 2020-2030 which was adopted by Council in May 2020.

On Wednesday 20 March 2024, following a 12 month trial of hireable e-scooters in the City, the Busselton Council made the decision to extend the program until November 2024. The extension is subject to community concerns being addressed in particular, around parking, thoroughfares and speed.

Councillors were keen to take community feedback on board and acknowledged the concerns raised by the community when making their decision.

Improvements will include designated parking areas that do not block thoroughfares and are not visual nuisance, and slower speed restrictions for single use, narrow paths adjacent to the coast.

More information, including the Council Agenda report can be found on the project page. A full report on Council decision will be included in the Council report which will be published here.

The community have now had the opportunity to review the new draft Bushfire Risk Reduction Notice for the City of Busselton.

This draft has been carefully developed with a Community Project Reference Group over the last six months. This group is comprised of 30 community group representatives, ranging from resident associations, environmental groups, bushfire brigades and specialists from state government.

Local governments are required to have a Bushfire Notice to manage and minimise the risk of bushfire in and around our homes. It is one of several tools to support fire prevention in community.

This Notice, once finalised and adopted by Council will replace the City's current Firebreak and Fuel Hazard Reduction Notice. The current notice requires updating in order to comply with contemporary bushfire practices and to ensure our community is best supported and prepared for bushfire.

Consultation has now closed and all feedback will be reviewed, before a final Notice being presented to Council in the next few months.

The City of Busselton is seeking community feedback on what you would like to see upgraded at Holgate Reserve. Once a busy, well-used reserve for beach goers, families, volleyball and tennis enthusiasts, Holgate Reserve is in much need of some love and attention.

This project will have a limited budget, but depending on community feedback, the project can potentially be funded over multiple years.

The option that the community prioritises the most will be presented to Council for consideration of adoption in the 2024/25 budget and developed into a larger concept plan.