News

At the City of Busselton, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive community. We are proud to announce that we’re supporting the Hidden Disabilities (HD) Sunflower initiative.

We understand there has been some recent community discussion and enhanced interest in the progress of the draft Local Planning Scheme 22 and the process the City must follow to develop and finalise it.

The City of Busselton is pleased to announce that its Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP) 2025-2029 was endorsed by the Council at its meeting of 12 March 2025.

Funding provided through the City’s Business Development, Events and Marketing Program (BDEMP) in 2025 will directly support proposals that drive positive economic outcomes across the City of Busselton.

Following the recent fire, Marri Reserve is temporarily closed for safety reasons and to allow the vegetation to recover.

The City is delighted to be launching its first grant funding program specifically focused on activities which foster and celebrate the City’s sister city relationship with the Town of Sugito in Japan.

At its meeting on 29 January 2025, the City of Busselton Council adopted a new Long Term Financial Plan to guide the City’s strategic planning and to assist the Council to meet its strategic objectives over the next ten years (2025/26 – 2034/35).

At the Ordinary Council Meeting on 29 January 2025, the City of Busselton Council made a decision to request Main Roads WA to provide a briefing on their approach to assessing roads within the City, specifically in relation to the proposed Vasse-Dunsborough link and in recognition of the expected increase in traffic volumes.

The City of Busselton Council has supported a recommendation from its Waterways Management Committee to award a tender to BCP Group to undertake Stage 3 of a sediment removal program as part of a continued commitment to look at ways to improve the health of the Lower Vasse River.

Following extensive community consultation with regard to a possible “whole of area” speed reduction trial in late 2024, the City of Busselton Council has now decided unanimously not to proceed with that approach.

As part of the Australia Day celebrations held in both Busselton and Dunsborough, the City performed two Citizenship Ceremonies and presented the Community Citizen of the Year Awards.

The City of Busselton has been awarded over $300K of grants from the State Government for innovative projects designed to increase water availability for firefighting, reduce pressure on scheme water, and improve non-potable water networks.

The City is proud to announce its new partnership with Workpower, who have been engaged to manage and operate the new City of Busselton Reuse Shop at the Busselton Waste Transfer Station on Rendezvous Road.

Did you know that of approximately 610,000 children and young people in WA, up to 17% live below the poverty line? At some local schools, as many as 1 in 5 students start the new school year with nothing in their schoolbags.

At its meeting in December 2024, Council resolved to adopt for public consultation changes to the City’s Local Planning Policy for Holiday Homes and amendments to its current Local Planning Scheme.

At its November 2024 meeting, the Council made the decision to switch from monthly to fortnightly Council meetings throughout 2025.

The Water Corporation has advised the City that it is looking at ways to reduce peak period water use in Dunsborough over the busy summer holiday period to ensure the continuity of its water supply to homes and businesses in the area. 

At its December Council meeting, the Council considered an item of urgent business, a motion which requested consideration of using the City’s current cash reserves to fund the completion of Saltwater rather than proceeding with the previous Council decision to take out loans and increase rates to cover it. The Council resolved 6/3 to revoke and change parts of the previous decision made in November, and to enable the new funding approach to be implemented.

SALTWATER is now 78 per cent complete and the City of Busselton has been busy securing entertainment and confirming venue bookings for the opening year and beyond.

The City of Busselton has been honoured with the Judges’ Award at the 2024 WA Heritage Awards.

The City of Busselton’s Events Sponsorship Program will once again provide significant funding to continue with the successful delivery of several well-loved events within the City.

The City of Busselton is continuing with its commitment to improving the health of the Lower Vasse River through the assessment of a new aeration trial.

The City is proud to be partnering with the WA Police and a wide range of other local emergency response services to undertake a “real life” training exercise at the coast at Bunker Bay on Saturday 30 November.

On awarding the tender, the forecast project cost for Saltwater was $44.55 million, comprising $38million for construction and $6.55 million for contingency funding and other project costs, such as design.

In September 2024 the City acquired 465 hectares of land at Sues Road in Yalyalup for future outdoor recreational activities.

The City of Busselton proudly honoured the extraordinary achievements of its volunteer firefighters at the annual Emergency Service Volunteer Awards held on Friday evening. The event celebrated the unwavering dedication and heroic efforts of the City’s Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades, highlighting their crucial role in safeguarding the community.

On 16 October 2024, Council formally endorsed a brand new Council Plan 2024-2034. This comprehensive new plan outlines the City’s vision, outcomes and strategic priorities for the next ten years and details the specific priority projects which will be undertaken over the next four years.

The City of Busselton will soon be delivering a wide range of coastal strengthening projects at multiple locations along the Geographe Bay coastline during November, February and March. Works will include upgrade of sections of footpaths to double as levees, dune stabilisation and planting of new vegetation to be undertaken with the onset of winter.

After extending the trial of hireable e-scooters in the City of Busselton, the Council has now made the decision to allow them to stay.

A world-class Convention and Performing Arts Centre in Busselton, Western Australia is a step closer to becoming a reality, with the centre set to open in mid-2025.