Busselton Foreshore Precinct
The Busselton Foreshore is the flagship coastal precinct within the City of Busselton.
From the restoration of the iconic Busselton Jetty to the construction of a youth precinct, the popular coastal stretch has undergone a spectacular transformation.
The result is a thriving destination that is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike with a range of facilities including visitor centre, conference/exhibition spaces, skate park and youth facilities, nautical-themed playground and walking promenades as well as commercial offerings including a range of food and beverage offerings and quality hotel accommodation. Over the years the project has benefited from generous State and Federal funding and enormous community support and input. The redevelopment is already delivering important social, economic and cultural benefits for the City of Busselton and the South West region which is one of the State’s most popularly visited destinations.
The precinct is underpinned by the historic Busselton Jetty, the longest wooden piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. The Jetty was refurbished when the foreshore project commenced, with refurbishment being completed in 2011. In addition to the jetty structure there is also an Underwater Observatory and Interpretive Centre, with a tourist train service operating from the shore to the observatory.
History
The project commenced with the establishment of the Busselton Foreshore Working Group (BFWG) in 2009. This working group had the remit to prepare a staged plan for the redevelopment of the Busselton foreshore, in consultation with the community and stakeholders. The BFWG presented their final report, including concept plan and recommendations to Council in 2010.
This lead to the development of the Busselton Foreshore Master Plan, which was adopted by the Council on the 28 March 2012. The Busselton Foreshore Development Guide Plan was also adopted by the Council in 2012 as a means of implementing the Master Plan. Following some amendments the plan was adopted as a Structure Plan With formal endorsement occurring in 2014. At this point it included 5 identified short stay accommodation sites. This was modified in 2016 to reduce the short stay accommodation sites to the 3 that are identified in the current plans (including the one that has already been developed) and expand the provision of public carparking. Further minor amendments to the Structure Plan were made in 2021. See below.
Busselton Foreshore Structure Plan
Busselton Overall Master Plan
Over the years the project has benefited from generous State and Federal funding and enormous community support. The redevelopment is already delivering important social, economic and cultural benefits for the City of Busselton and the South West region which is one of the State’s most popularly visited destinations.
Facilities
The project has been delivered in a series of stages, with development continuing. Elements delivered include:
- Sea Play on the Bay
- Busselton Foreshore Youth Precinct
- Railway House, which currently houses a Visitor Centre and Marine Discovery Centre, along with the Ballaarat Engine.
- Jetty Train Toddlers Play Space
- Amphitheatre and Sound Shell
- Barnard Park Sport Pavilion and associated sporting fields
- Busselton Tennis Club
- Gathering spaces with BBQ’s and seating
- Walking promenades to connect the central hub with other foreshore precincts and the city centre.
- Exercise stations
In addition, the precinct currently houses a number of commercial operations:
- The Goose
- Kyst and Sandbox
- Shelter Brewery
- Hilton Garden Inn
- Little Otto’s Choc Shop
Seasonal markets and a small number of temporary activation sites also exist within the precinct.
Hotel Site 1
With the support of Tourism Western Australia, the City of Busselton has now attracted a proposal for a new luxury hotel to be built on the world class Busselton foreshore.
The original Busselton Foreshore Master Plan was adopted in 2012, and comprises approximately 38 hectares of combined commercial, cultural and public space, right on the water’s edge adjacent to the iconic Busselton Jetty. Three short stay accommodation sites were earmarked within this precinct, with the highly successful Hilton Garden Inn already having been built and now successfully operating on one of the sites.
The remaining two sites (Hotel Site 1 and Hotel Site 3) were recently promoted as flagship investment opportunities by Tourism Western Australia, noting the regular flight services from the Busselton Margaret River Airport to Sydney and Melbourne. Council made the decision to open the door for negotiation with a key proponent for the construction of a new hotel at Hotel Site 1.
The development proposal for a new luxury hotel is in line with Council’s long-term strategy for the Busselton foreshore and consistent with the City’s Busselton Foreshore Structure Plan which guides development within the foreshore precinct.
Negotiation of a development deed will enable both parties to agree to project details upon which the City will prepare a business plan with an overall assessment of the proposed development, which will be advertised for public comment. As the foreshore land is located within a public reserve, the City will also negotiate with the State of WA to secure tenure of the site. The Council will make a final decision on whether to proceed with the hotel development after the business plan has been advertised and all public submissions have been considered.