When last year’s State budget was released, we were excited to see $4 million allocated for a new fishing platform to replace Bunbury’s recently condemned community fishing jetty.
Today, we can share the design details for the jetty planned for Bunbury’s Casuarina Boat Harbour.
This project will open up exciting, fully accessible land-based fishing opportunities for locals and visitors alike, catering to fishers of all abilities.
The new jetty, extending about a third of the way along a 460-metre breakwater currently under construction, will provide access to deeper waters to Koombana Bay. Fishers can look forward to targeting species like skippy, crabs, salmon, and even mulloway – making this a great new asset for the thousands of people who fish in and around Bunbury.
As WA’s second-largest city, Bunbury deserves a top-quality fishing jetty, and it’s fantastic to see the State Government progress in delivery on its promise from May, following the closure of the popular Bunbury Service Jetty.
Local fishing advocate Ant Simper summed it up perfectly.
“As parents of two young kids who love fishing, we’re very excited by this announcement. It’s been apparent for years that Bunbury lacked shore-based fishing options year-round, so this will be welcomed with open arms,” said Ant.
“Many spots in Bunbury are often weeded out and unfishable during the cooler months and we have to drive down to Busselton to fish in winter. So, we can’t wait to fish for a range of fish species in the harbour from herring and tailor through to bigger species like mulloway. It should also be a great spot to throw out a net during the summer months when the harbour is full of crabs.”
We’re proud of our collaboration with Fishability in providing advice to the Department of Transport and South-West Development Commission to shape the jetty’s inclusive design – and we thank them for taking that advice on board. The jetty will feature shade and wind shelters, lighting, a universal access ramp and a railing design to optimise fishing for people in wheelchairs.
This development reflects the recent success of advocating for improved jetties and platforms, and why we will continue to highlight the exceptional community value of these assets.
It’s why we’ve urged all political parties to commit to building at least one new jetty in WA every year and maintaining all existing infrastructure in our manifesto for the future of fishing we have put to all political parties standing in this March’s State Election.
The new Bunbury jetty is a shining example of how accessibility and fishing amenities can be at the heart of coastal developments. We’re calling on governments at all levels to embrace this principle across all future projects – because investments like this don’t just support fishing – they enrich lives and communities.
