Sport to kick off new Koombana Bay

Organisers of a unique and exciting event set to kick off in Bunbury have inspected the progress of Koombana Bay’s major revitalisation.

The WA leg of the Australian Beach Games will be held at Koombana Bay in February 2018, when beach volleyball and soccer, handball, three-on-three basketball, dodge ball and stand-up paddle boarding will be among sporting activities.

The three-day event is expected to be one of the first after the multi-million dollar project finishes in December.

Event People general manager Scott Hollow said the games would activate the area and were more about fun than competition.

“It’ll be open to everyone and the focus won’t be on the elite but rather participation,” he said.

“It’s about having a go, bringing people together and maybe leaning a new sport.”

Mr Hollow said the “dream” was that the event – a new concept in Australia – would be the beach-version of the Olympic Games in 10 to 15 years time. But he said the Bunbury event would include more than just sport.

Organisers will take advantage of the impressive new amphitheatre as part of the redevelopment and hold concerts over the course of the event.

Mr Hollow said he was in the process of talking to renowned DJs and even Australian band Killing Heidi and singer Daryl Braithwaite.

The event is one of four iconic events Bunbury City Council has planned for next year through its partnership with Sports Marketing Australia.

Acting tourism, events and wildlife park manager Isabell Evans said the beach games would be a “fantastic” start for the venue.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase the Koombana Bay redevelopment and all that Bunbury has to offer,” Ms Evans said.

“Hopefully it will inspire more event organisers to consider Koombana Bay.”

Registrations for February’s event are due to open within the next month.