Premier not happy with proposed Bunbury DPaW site

A department of Parks and Wildlife headquarters in Bunbury has never looked more unlikely after Premier Mark McGowan last week declared the site chosen “did not make sense”.

The Bunbury Herald in July revealed the planned headquarters in the city were being reviewed by the State Government in a bid to determine if the project was “financially prudent, represents value for money and was operationally sustainable”.

While millions of dollars have already been poured into landscaping and civil works at the Koombana Drive location, Mr McGowan said the site was too far out of the city centre and the Government would “re-examine” the move.

“I’m not particularly happy with the site that was chosen,” Mr McGowan said.

“Out there at Koombana Bay, it’s away from the town centre.

“If you’re going to have a large number of public servants come into Bunbury, you want them in the heart of the city to boost the city.

“And I thought that the location that was chosen, wasn’t the right one because it doesn’t actually provide the life and vitality to the city that you need.”

Responding to whether the city would be left with just a carpark and lookout at the site, Mr McGowan said “let’s wait and see”.

“There was a lot of talk by the last Government about the issue without much delivery, we want to deliver,” he said.

“You don’t want them (public servants) secluded a couple of kilometres away.”

Mayor Gary Brennan did not want to respond to Mr McGowan’s comments until the State Budget was handed down this week, but he previously told the Herald that he understood the reasoning behind the review but would be disappointed if the project did not proceed.