April and May is the season of Djeran in the South West. This time of year brings a welcome shift toward cooler nights, and south-westerly breezes. Djeran is the season of growth and maturity and represented by the colour green.
Last week the State Government announced its Seven Cities initiative, aimed at strengthening regional economies across WA. Bunbury is a key beneficiary, including $89.1 million committed to major upgrades at the Casuarina Boat Harbour.
We’re already seeing strong interest in the Bunbury foreshore development, particularly from businesses looking to be part of what will become a significant marine and tourism hub. Plans include a marina with around 60 permanent pens, alongside land set aside for “harbour purpose” uses such as hospitality, sailing clubs and marine services. In fact, we’ve recently welcomed a new member who is looking to relocate their marine business to Bunbury off the back of this opportunity alone.
The potential for marine tourism is substantial. With improved access for larger vessels and a safe deepwater marina, Bunbury is well positioned to attract visiting yachts and powerboats from Perth and beyond. It also opens the door to future opportunities around events and races. For example, while the Fremantle to Bunbury Yacht Race doesn’t stop in Bunbury, there may be scope to explore opportunities for races that do.
If you’re interested in the commercial opportunities tied to the foreshore development, you can view further details here: Leasing opportunities | Transport WA.
We’re also working in partnership with the University of Western Australia on a new AI-powered dashboard designed to better understand workforce needs across the South West. Using Census data alongside local survey insights, the tool will provide a clearer picture of current and future skills demand by LGA.
We recently saw a preview of the dashboard and were impressed by its ability to layer data across regions and industries, helping to identify trends in income, workforce capability and sector demand. We’ll be launching the final version next month and encourage you to take part in the survey, which will also give you complimentary access to the platform. Read more and to take the survey.
We’re now just over a month out from the AFL fixture between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and Fremantle Dockers at Hands Oval on 6 June. With both sides currently sitting in the top eight at the time of writing this. There are still signage packages available at Hands Oval, which include tickets to the game. If you’re interested, feel free to contact me directly to obtain details: ceo@bgcci.com.au
On a related note, we’ll be hosting our next Black Coffee event on 21 May at Chamber House, with former AFL players Des Headland (Fremantle) and Marlion Pickett (Richmond) joining us. It’s a relaxed opportunity to connect, particularly for businesses looking to engage with First Nations communities. Register here.
A quick reminder that from 1 July 2026, superannuation will need to be paid on payday. If you haven’t already, I recommend taking a look at the webinar we recently delivered with RSM Australia, which outlines what this means in practice. If you need support, we’re happy to connect you with their team.
Vale David Smith OAM
Finally, we were saddened to hear of the passing of former Bunbury Mayor David Smith OAM. On behalf of the Chamber, I extend our sincere condolences to his wife, Deputy Mayor Tresslyn Smith, and their children Matthew, Nicholas and Penelope.
David's contribution to public life has been enormous as a councillor, mayor and MP. He has been remembered for his generosity, commitment and legacy.
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As always, thank you for your ongoing support of the Chamber and participation in our programs.
Sean McKeown
CEO
Bunbury Geographe Chamber of Commerce and Industry
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