From Wednesday 7 October, renovation works will begin at the Bunbury Badminton Centre, next to the South West Sports Centre.

The works are being managed by the Bunbury and Districts Badminton Association, which owns the badminton facility and leases the land from the City of Bunbury.

The project includes roofing works and the removal of asbestos-containing materials. We understand the mention of asbestos may raise questions, so we want to be clear about how this work will be managed. The asbestos-containing materials will be removed by appropriately qualified and licensed professionals in line with relevant safety requirements. The work area will be fenced off from the public, with access limited to authorised workers. The materials will also be appropriately removed and disposed of as part of the works.

As a result of the works:

• 17 car parking bays on the western side of the South West Sports Centre car park will be temporarily unavailable
• Temporary fencing will be in place around the construction area
• The pedestrian pathway between the Bunbury Badminton Centre and South West Sports Centre will remain open

The changes are expected to remain in place until December 2026.

South West Sports Centre remains open

The South West Sports Centre will remain open as usual throughout the works. Members and visitors can continue to enter the Centre through the main entrance, and the pedestrian pathway between the Bunbury Badminton Centre and South West Sports Centre will remain open.

A map below shows the temporary changes to parking and the construction area:

If you’re visiting during the works, please allow a little extra time to find a park and take care around the temporary fencing in place around the site.

We appreciate your patience and understanding while our neighbours complete these works.

Frequently asked questions:

A shipwreck-themed splash park open at Skyes Foreshore Reserve, Bunbury.

Where: Lyons Cove, Bunbury WA 6230, Australia

Cost: FREE

Major attractions include over 40 water features, with a giant tipping bucket and many spray zones. The biggest hit has to be the bucket, which fills and splashes the kids about every five minutes. There are also a few smaller splash buckets around the splash park.

From Koombana dr, turn right at Lyons cove at the roundabout to Sykes Foreshore Reserve .

And best of all, it is FREE FREE FREE!

Treat the kids to a cool-down on a hot spring day.

Scrolling through fb today and most of the posts at AI.even restaurant plates. They did gnomesville dirty.

The City of Bunbury will enter a joint venture to develop the former Punchbowl caravan park site in South Bunbury into a house and land estate, after Bunbury City Council considered community submissions and gave its approval.

At its Ordinary Council Meeting on 29 September 2026, Council authorised the Chief Executive Officer to enter a joint venture agreement for Lot 211 and Lot 501 Holywell Street, South Bunbury - the 2.07 hectare site known as Punchbowl.

The decision follows a six-week public advertising period from 30 June to 11 August 2026, with submissions showing strong support for developing the site.

The development is expected to deliver more than 50 new homes across a mix of lot sizes, including ready-built homes rather than subdivided land alone. Delivery is targeted within two to three years, subject to approvals and site remediation.

The City will have the chance to shape the development plan during joint venture negotiations, and any development application will be assessed through the normal planning approval process.

Bunbury Mayor Jaysen Miguel said the decision was a turning point for a site the community had waited a long time to see used.

"Punchbowl has sat empty for more than 20 years while Bunbury's housing shortage has grown more acute every year," Mayor Miguel said.

“Council backed a pathway that will deliver new homes for families who need them, in a well-located coastal area, within two to three years.

"This isn't the City selling land and walking away. A joint venture means we keep a partnership role in making sure this development delivers the outcome our community expects."

Read more HERE.

Congratulations to all our members! It's you who make this sub possible!

We continue to grow every week. Keep up the good work y'all!

More than 650 vehicles have been seized in the South West since January as police crackdown on reckless driving, with the regional road toll reaching 98 deaths.

South West Police Superintendent Paul Van Nort has urged motorists to take greater responsibility behind the wheel, warning the consequences of dangerous driving can be fatal.

“People need to start taking this seriously … Once you’re gone, you’re gone, you don’t come back,” he told ABC Breakfast host Stan Shaw.

It comes after a 21-year-old Shenton Park man was allegedly caught driving a McLaren at up to 259km/h on Forrest Highway near Binningup.

Police seized the vehicle after it was detected travelling 149km/h over the speed limit at night.

Supt Van Nort described the alleged driving as “mind-blowing”, saying it endangered other motorists as well as the driver.

“This particular individual was clocked at 149 kilometres over the limit at nighttime. He’s not only put himself in extreme danger, but every other road user out there,” he said.

The man is due to appear in Bunbury Magistrates Court on October 15.

A total of 657 vehicles have been seized in the South West since January, while 3075 vehicles were impounded across WA between July 1 and September 30.

When: Wednesdays & Fridays, !0:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Where: The Wardandi Wanil Art Centre, 4 Stephen Street, Bunbury 6230

Cost: FREE

A new home for Aboriginal art, culture and creativity has opened in the heart of Bunbury.

The Wardandi Wanil Art Centre – the first Aboriginal art centre open on Wardandi Noongar Country – welcomes visitors from Wednesday 30 September 2026, with its inaugural exhibition Wanil – Healing Gathering Growing on display. Artists, Elders, community and partners celebrated the centre’s opening at an event last week.

The opening marks a landmark moment for the South West. More than a new arts facility, Wardandi Wanil Art Centre is a place for Aboriginal artists and community to gather, create, share stories, connect with culture and develop opportunities through art.

Co-designed with artists and Elders, the centre provides a culturally safe and professionally equipped space where Aboriginal artists can create, exhibit and sell their work, while sharing knowledge and learning from one another. It is a place where generations can come together – where stories, cultural knowledge and creative practices can be shared, celebrated and carried forward.

While the gallery opens to the public for the first time this month, the centre’s studio has been quietly alive with artists since May, with workshops, artist registrations and creative programs already underway.

The centre is growing and continuing its journey towards becoming a fully Aboriginal-led organisation – a lasting home for Aboriginal artists, creativity and culture in the South West.

The Wardandi Wanil Art Centre will be open to the public from Wednesday 30 September, every Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 4pm, with free entry.

When: Saturday, October 24 2026

Where: Foreshore Drive, Busselton WA 6280

Cost: FREE

SWBC proudly presents Busselton Bluesfest, back for the second year — Saturday 24 October!

A free community event on the foreshore, celebrating 20 years of Keeping the Blues Alive.

We've got 7 bands set to take the stage and we'll be announcing the full lineup soon — trust us, it's worth the wait.

Free entry, all ages, bring your chairs and your dancing shoes. Mark it in the calendar and get ready for a huge day of live blues by the water.

The Orionids meteor shower will be Moon-free for a few hours before dawn, depending on the date. Like the Eta Aquariids of May, the Orionids are bits of Halley’s Comet; Earth makes two passes through Halley’s (rather dispersed) meteoroid stream in our annual circle around the Sun. Like the Eta Aquariids, this shower runs for at least several nights.

Orionid meteors, created by bits of debris from Halley’s Comet, appear to radiate from the upraised club of Orion just under the feet of Gemini.
Sky & Telescope

The Orionid radiant (in Orion's dim club, north of Betelgeuse) is highest in the hour before the start of dawn. The Orionids performed richly from 2006 through 2009, boasting peak rates of more than 50 meteors per hour. Since then, the activity has dwindled to a fraction of that.

Good places to view in Bunbury is Back Beach, looking North/NorthEast and high overhead. Marlston Lookout should be decent also. Anywhere away from light pollution with a view to the northeast will do.

It’s best to be reclining to watch overhead, so grab a lounge, rug up, and bring your fave beverage outside and post here if you see one!

And more importantly, what are you buying from the Central Isle of Shame?

Bunbury City Council has voted 5 to 4 not to support a proposed planning scheme amendment for five currently undeveloped sites along Ocean Drive in Bunbury’s Back Beach Precinct.

The decision was contrary to the recommendation of the City of Bunbury’s professional officers, who recommended the amendment be supported subject to modifications.

The proposed amendment followed extensive assessment and sought to change the planning framework applying to the precinct, including rezoning three sites to Residential R60 and two to Mixed Use – Commercial R80.

In forming their recommendation, City officers considered the applicable State and local planning framework, the City’s Local Housing Strategy, technical traffic and environmental assessments, feedback received through 60 days of public consultation and advice from relevant State agencies and service authorities. No service authority objected to the proposal, while modifications were recommended to address environmental management requirements raised by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

The officer assessment also recognised that the five sites remain undeveloped under the existing planning framework and that the proposed changes would provide greater flexibility for future residential, mixed-use and tourism-related development.

Council ultimately resolved not to support the amendment, stating that while it supports development of the land in principle, it did not consider sufficient justification had been provided to change the existing planning framework. Council also raised concerns about potential housing density, tourism accommodation and the need for a broader strategic approach to the Back Beach precinct.

The City’s administration respects the recommendation of Council to not support the proposed scheme amendment. It is equally important that our community understands the professional advice provided to Council and the work undertaken by City staff to support informed decision-making.

The Council resolution will now form part of the statutory planning process for the scheme amendment for the WA Planning Commission to decide.

Read the full officer report and Council resolution.

City of Bunbury CEO Alan Ferris said the organisation would continue to provide Council with robust, evidence-based professional advice on significant planning and development matters.

“Our community expects the City to be actively looking for opportunities to address housing, encourage appropriate development and make better use of land that has remained undeveloped,” he said.

“Our staff also have a professional responsibility to assess proposals on their merits and provide Council with clear advice based on the planning framework, technical evidence, community consultation and the City’s adopted strategies.

“In the case of the Back Beach precinct, our professional officers undertook that work and recommended that Scheme Amendment No. 16 be supported, subject to modifications.

“Council ultimately determined, by a 5 to 4 vote, not to support that recommendation. That is a decision Council is entitled to make.

“But I also think it is important that we are transparent with our community when this occurs. A Council decision that differs from an officer recommendation should not diminish the considerable professional work that has gone into developing or assessing a proposal, nor should it create the impression that the organisation has not been actively pursuing opportunities for Bunbury.

“We will continue to bring forward well-researched, evidence-based recommendations that we believe respond to the challenges and opportunities facing our city – including housing supply, economic development and the activation of strategically important land.

“And we will be clear with our community about what our professional officers have recommended, what Council has decided and what those decisions mean for Bunbury.”

We have a number of great beaches in Bunbury. But which is your best, and why? Feel free to comment to get the convo going.

Bobby’s On the Go.

Owned by the guy who owns the Benesse cafes. Directly across the road from The Happy Wife, who might not be too happy about it.

It’s where the old Corners on King used to be.

Looks lovely, but the section with the parking either side is so narrow it looks more like a one way street than a two way street. Also 30km/h is painfully slow along an actual distributor street.

Thoughts? Like it? Hate it?

What kind of posts interest you? City council actions? Sports events? Restaurants? Interesting facts about the area?

Please post or comment your thoughts. It will help make this sub better for everyone.

Whale thrashing off Hungry Hollow, Bunbury, WA

This video was taken at 11:40 AM Tuesday October 6 from Hungry Hollow. It appears the whale is thrashing to remove parasites or an obstruction of some sort.

This activity continued for 30 minutes, then the whale ceased thrashing and slowly moved off along the coast headed north.

Edit: Had wrong day thanks u/gronkunit

Edit2: I have learned this behavior is known as Lobtailing, where the whale lifts its tail flukes into the air and strikes the water surface hard, creating a loud sound that travels kilometers underwater to talk to other whales.

Hey all, I'm a disability support worker and need ideas of what to do around the Bunbury area of what me and my client can do when where together. I'm some what of a local (collie) so I know most things and he's done all the things I can think of (wild life park, dolphin discovery ect). Ideally activities need to be done in 2 hours but can be longer.

When: Sunday, October 18 2026

Where: Lot 1894 King Tree Rd (off Weetman Rd), Wellington Mill WA 6236

Cost: LIMITED SPOTS LEFT. BOOK HERE

Join us at the Talisman Cellar Door for Get Shucked – an afternoon of fresh oysters, great wine and relaxed Ferguson Valley views.

Enjoy freshly shucked oysters with a glass of Talisman wine, selected by you on arrival and settle in to enjoy the beautiful surrounds and views across the dam.

Choose from two ticket options:

$45 – Six Oysters + Wine
Six freshly shucked oysters with a glass of Talisman wine of your choice.

$70 – Twelve Oysters + Wine
Twelve freshly shucked oysters with a glass of Talisman wine of your choice.

Additional wine will be available for purchase on the day.

Choose from three sessions:
11am – 1pm
1pm – 3pm
3pm – 5pm

Each booking is for a two-hour session, giving you plenty of time to enjoy your oysters, explore Talisman wines and take in the surrounds.

Places are limited for each session, so bookings are essential.

Visit Talisman Wines for more info.

More information and submission forms HERE.

The modifications to the City of Bunbury’s Local Planning Policies (LPPs) are designed to modernize development controls, align local guidelines with state planning requirements, and address emerging housing and land-use trends.

The targeted updates across Series 1.0 and Series 2.0 focus on the following key changes:

Series 1.0 – Administrative & General Development Policies

• LPP 1.1 – Exempt Development
  • Summary of Changes: Streamlines and expands the types of minor works and low-impact structures that are exempt from requiring formal development approval. The updates aim to reduce red tape for homeowners and small businesses while ensuring built-form standards and safety criteria are still met without a full planning assessment.
• LPP 1.2 – Special Control Area – Development Areas (SCA-DA)
  • Summary of Changes: Refines the framework guiding structure plans, local development plans, and technical investigations within designated development areas. Changes typically clarify expectations around infrastructure delivery, environmental/coastal assessments, and the integration of mixed-use or residential infill.
• LPP 1.3 – Design Review
  • Summary of Changes: Updates the operational guidelines for architectural and urban design evaluations. Modifications often reinforce the integration of the Design Review Panel process early in project lifecycles to elevate the quality of multiple-dwelling, commercial, and public-facing developments across Bunbury.

Series 2.0 – Specific Land Use & Operational Policies

• LPP 2.1 – Home Business and Family Day Care
  • Summary of Changes: Modernizes operational constraints (such as vehicle parking, client visit limits, and hours of operation) to better accommodate modern remote working arrangements, home-based enterprises, and family day care services while protecting surrounding residential areas from excessive noise or traffic disruption.
• LPP 2.2 – Unhosted STRA and Unrestricted Length of Stay
  • Summary of Changes: Strengthens regulatory controls around Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA)—specifically unhosted dwellings (where guests rent an entire house without the owner present). The changes seek to balance tourism accommodation demands with the availability and affordability of long-term rental housing in Bunbury by managing locational impacts, guest parking, and complaint response mechanisms.
• LPP 2.3 – Animal Establishments
  • Summary of Changes: Updates the siting, setback, environmental management (such as waste and odor control), and animal keeping limits for commercial or intensive animal-related establishments to ensure better compatibility with neighboring properties and environmental protection standards.

When: Tonight Monday October 5 2026 6:00 - 8:30 PM

Where: The Parade Hotel, 1 Austral Parade, Bunbury 6230

Cost: FREE

What's this Bush Poetry Stuff?

The art of bush poetry and yarn spinning is all about entertaining. It's about telling a story and delivering the lines with just the right amount of humour, passion or feeling and sometimes, even with a touch of the theatrical to add to the spectacle - but mostly, it is just about getting up and having a go.

Come along and listen or take part in reading your poetry.

Please note; that this event will now be held in the Bistro area.

More soon!

Edit: If you have flowers in your yard or photos of local flowers you think are lovely, please post here.