Recently Closed Consultations

The City recently sought feedback from local residents on the issue of sediments built-up in Toby Inlet. As part of the survey, 5 areas were identified as of concern to the community, with the highest impacts being listed as poor visual amenity, reduced water flow and reduced on-water recreational access. This information, alongside thorough desktop and field assessments will be used by the City to undertake a study of the sediments in Toby Inlet, which will provide more detailed information informing future decisions regarding management and/or removal of sediments from the inlet. This project is funded through the Revitalising Geographe Waterways 2 program.

Dunsborough Townscape

Consultation with local businesses and residents regarding the next stage of the Dunsborough Town Centre development (Stage 6) didn’t reveal a clear community preference for any one of the three options presented. Given this fact and the need to ensure future works tie in with ongoing Activity Centre Planning for the Dunsborough CBD, Council has decided to put these works on hold to undertake further consultation.

The City recently undertook community consultation regarding the concept plans for the revitalisation of Mitchell Park in the Busselton City Centre. A great range of feedback was received and City staff will now review and where possible use this when undertaking the detailed planning and costings. It is anticipated that revitalisation work will commence in the 2020/21 FY, and depending on budget, may be staged across a couple of years.

The City’s Reconciliation Action Plan was adopted by Council on 9 October 2019 after a long journey of consultation with the local Aboriginal community. The feedback after the initial draft lead to some changes and the City staff are on board to implement this significant document. We would like to sincerely thank the community for their ideas and aspirations for the The City, we are taking small steps on this long journey and working on projects with the Undalup Association and Aboriginal community members. A presentation was made to the South West Boodjarah Working Party on 13 November 2019. The RAP has been submitted to Reconciliation Australia for endorsement and a launch is anticipated in February 2020.

Status:

The City has received overwhelmingly positive support from residents for the proposed upgrade following a recent mail out. Suggestions from residents and members of the City of Busselton Disability Access and Inclusion Plan Reference Group will be considered by the design team.

This feedback has been now analysed. It provided excellent data about the needs and challenges faced by local clubs, associations and individual participants.

Next step: The focus is now on developing a range of financially viable options that are aligned with facility standards and feedback received. Specifically we will be looking at opportunities around existing and new infrastructure and providing a schedule of prioritised projects that informs the Long Term Financial plan and assists in sourcing external funding.

The Lower Vasse River and Toby Inlet Waterway Management Plans (WMP) are key projects of the Revitalising Geographe Waterways (RGW) Program, to improve water quality and ecosystem health for these waterways. The City of Busselton has been developing these WMPs in collaboration with the community and other stakeholders that have a role in future implementation of the WMPs. The consultation process has been central to developing the draft vision, objectives and management strategies. Review of existing resources and outcomes from additional investigations have also informed the WMPs.

The Waterway Management Plans for the Lower Vasse River and Toby Inlet were adopted by Council on 22 May 2019 as guides to future planning. Actions of the Waterway Management Plans will be implemented as resources and funding permit.

UPDATE 14 May 2019:

Strategic Community Plan 2017 - Minor Review

The City wishes to thanks all who were involved in our recent review of the Strategic Community Plan 2017. The feedback we received from the community played a key part in the review process.

The amended Strategic Community Plan 2017 (Review 2019) can be found via the link below.

https://www.busselton.wa.gov.au/Council/Corporate-Documents/Strategic-and-Corporate-Planning

UPDATE: 7/3/19

COASTAL ADAPTATION PLANNING

COMMUNITY INFORMATION SESSIONS

The City of Busselton is working to identify the vulnerability of our sandy coastline (Wonnerup to Dunsborough and the coastline at Yallingup, Eagle Bay, Smiths Beach and Bunker Bay settlements) to coastal hazards through a Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Planning (CHRMAP) project.

The aim of the CHRMAP is to identify the current and potential extent of risk to private assets, public infrastructure and environmental, social and cultural values from coastal hazards arising from predicted sea level rise over a 100 year timeframe and the consequences and actions needed to meet the challenges of sea level rise.

The project is a five phase study approach –

Phase 1 established the context of the coastal environment and what our community values about our coast. The results of the community coastal values survey ‘The City of Busselton Coastal Adaptation Research’ report is available on the City’s website.

Phase 2 identified coastal hazards, being erosion and inundation. Coastal hazards have been modelled at future predicted sea level rise to determine what natural and built assets and their cultural, social, environmental and economic value are at risk over 100 years. Coastal hazard maps have been produced that show what areas may be impacted by coastal hazards.

Phase 3 analysed coastal hazard risks against what the community values about our coastline to give a range of tolerable coastal risks. Phase 4 will develop potential coastal adaptation options and adaptation pathways based on multiple social, cultural, environmental and economic criteria.

Phase 5 will involve the preparation of a draft Coastal Adaptation Strategy which will be available for public comment mid-2019. The project will provide a clear and easily understood framework for the future management of our coastline.

Be involved –

Two community information sessions on the City’s CHRMAP project will be held so people can review information on coastal adaptation planning and coastal hazard mapping –

Monday 25 March 2019 at the Youth Community Activity Building, Foreshore Parade, Busselton:

· 4.30pm – 6.00pm informal drop in/discussion session with project team members

· 6.00pm – 7.00pm project presentation and Q&A session

Tuesday 26 March 2019 at the Naturaliste Community Centre, Dunsborough Lakes Drive, Dunsborough:

· 2.00pm – 3.30pm informal drop in/discussion session with project team members

· 3.30pm – 4.30pm project presentation and Q&A session

For enquiries and to register attendance please email Louise.Koroveshi@busselton.wa.gov.auThanks to those people who provided feedback to the City via the Coastal Adaptation Community Survey.

During 2018, the City undertook a community consultation program to identify a preferred vision for the future of the Dunsborough Town Centre. The City’s aim is to understand the issues and aspirations that reflect the general consensus of the community.