Dolphin centre, foreshore revamp going swimmingly

Work on the Dolphin Discovery Centre redevelopment is well under way with site preparation work nearing completion, ready for the next stage.

Centre general manager David Kerr said the forward work, carried out by Perkins Builders, was about preparing the area next to the established building for the construction phase.

This began in February and was due to be completed by the end of this month.

The site would include a relocated building which would house a volunteers office, a wet laboratory for research purposes and a university office space, a pump shed for firefighting tanks and equipment and a boat shed.

South West Development Commission assistant director of infrastructure Ashley Clements said the development was part of stage one of the Transforming Bunbury’s Waterfront project, which would see $24.9 million pumped into the centre redevelopment and revitalising Koombana Bay.

He said the project aimed to attract more people to Bunbury and in turn bring money into the economy.

Tenders for the next stage would be sought from early this month and Mr Kerr hoped construction would begin in July, with all works to be completed by November 2018.

“We are remaining open throughout this period,” Mr Kerr said.