Bunbury fireworks to push on despite Perth cancellation

Perth’s signature Australia Day event, Skyworks, has been put on the backburner for 2021, but there will still be fireworks in Bunbury. The move to cancel Skyworks, which attracts 300,000 people to the Swan River foreshore, came amid COVID-19 concerns as the State moved to a “controlled” border this week and interstate travellers flocked to WA. Bunbury made its own controversial move recently when it was announced the annual SkyFest event would be held at the Koombana Foreshore, instead of the usual location along Pat Usher Promenade. The announcement of a change in location caused a stir online, with a split between residents concerned over the availability of parking and the impact it may have on businesses and others who encouraged people to accept the change and enjoy a walk. “Where (it) is usually held is in the middle of town, (where) struggling restaurants are located, where all the parking is located and with multiple vantage points all around the inlet. Why change?” one resident wrote. Mayor Gary Brennan said the shift to Koombana Foreshore was due to anticipated construction of the Bunbury Youth Precinct. “We always have the Australia Day breakfast citizenship awards at the Graham Bricknell sound shell and that will be the same for 2021,” Mr Brennan said. “Then we have the day activities which are normally held around the Pat Usher foreshore and we exclude an area near the plug for the fireworks. “We anticipate by mid to late January next year that earthworks would have started for the Youth Precinct there and we can’t secure the exclusion zone which is what we need for the fireworks.” Mr Brennan said the Shift by the Bay youth festival was recently held at Koombana Foreshore and it was a hit. “It worked really well and based on that experience the team thought we should move the Australia Day celebrations there,” he said. Mr Brennan said accessibility would be fine but recognised parking would be under pressure. If people were prepared to walk, he recommended parking near Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, on the Pat Usher Promenade and near Mangrove Cove. “I just encourage people to share vehicles if they can, getting close by is going to be an issue, no question about that,” Mr Brennan said. “There is going to be a fair bit of inconvenience for one special event and I ask for people’s patience. “It’s about celebrating Australia Day.”