City of Bunbury

Nominations for the City of Bunbury Heritage Awards 2024 are now open. The awards showcase excellence in revitalising and promoting Bunbury heritage. The City is seeking nominations from the many dedicated and passionate community members who work to share stories of our past. Through new tourism or cultural ventures, grand restoration projects that breathe new life into old buildings or dedicated volunteer work, we want to celebrate a shared passion for history. The Bunbury community is invited to nominate a recent initiative, project or individual that champions the City’s heritage. 🗝 Award Categories 🗝 Awards will be considered in the following categories: 🔵 Award 1 City of Bunbury – Award for Excellence in Heritage Building Design and Conservation Work Preservation, restoration or reconstruction of a building or part of a building. Harmonious infill development of a heritage place or in a heritage area. Sympathetic additions/extensions to an existing building. Sensitive adaptation of a building for another use. 🔵 Award 2 City of Bunbury – Award for Outstanding Heritage Promotion Significant contribution to the social, cultural and/or built heritage promotion of Bunbury. Nominations close 5pm Friday, 20 September 2024. Guidelines and nominations are available via the link below or please contact Ms Lacey Brown on 9792 7074 or [email protected] for further information.

LOOKING BACK ON 2023-24 We are well into the new financial year so thought we would look back at the year that was. Bunbury saw progress and completion of some big projects in 2023-24, including City, State and Federal-supported works. But there were also the smaller, yet equally important, projects and maintenance works the City was proud to continue to deliver for our community. Check out some of the projects and maintenance that happened in 2023-24.

Meet our latest Bunbury Brighter ambassador Kent Lyon. As a self-employed architect who runs a very successful business, Kent Lyon has been responsible for some of the most noteworthy heritage building transformations in Bunbury, such as Lotteries House, The Old Lyric, Stirling Street Arts Centre, Bunbury Senior High School and the City-owned Bunbury Museum and Heritage Centre. Kent believes in stripping back the layers to allow the old buildings to shine again. This is evident in the work he has and continues to produce throughout the South West. According to Kent, Bunbury’s charm lies in its maritime history, Noongar culture and sharing of stories as well as the rail network and port. He is particularly charmed by Bunbury’s basalt rocks and beaches where you can often find him with his wife and dogs. Read more via the following link https://lnkd.in/gSYpMFzi

Do you have a passion for leadership and community? As our Team Leader Building, you'll guide and inspire our building and compliance team to achieve excellence. Your leadership will help shape Bunbury's future, enhancing our reputation as a premier city to live, work, invest, and visit. You will be part of the City's Building team, which is committed to helping grow the City as well as assist customers, ensure standards are met and have a strong team-based approach. We are looking for someone with the following credentials: 🔵 Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying. 🔵 Eligible for registration as a Level 2 Building Surveyor Practitioner in Western Australia. 🔵 Comprehensive knowledge of the Building Codes of Australia, Australian Standards and Building Regulations. 🔵 A proactive leader ready to mentor and empower a talented team. 🔵 Ready to build a better Bunbury? Join us in making a difference. Enjoy a fulfilling career with a council that values flexibility, innovation, and well-being. For more details and to apply please follow the link https://lnkd.in/gxn9HdZZ... Applications close 30 August.

The City of Bunbury has appointed Brendan Smith as the new Director of Infrastructure. Mr Smith will join the Executive Team as of 23 September 2024, replacing former Director of Infrastructure Gavin Harris and current Acting Director Aileen Clemens. Throughout his 20-year career, Mr Smith has held senior positions in both public and private sectors across various regions, including Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Laos, and West Africa. As an experienced professional with a strong focus on project delivery, he has developed skills as a leader, strategic thinker, and decision-maker, fostering cohesive teams and robust relationships. Mr Smith’strack record includes managing airport services, waste management, civil construction, and other critical services. His background in asset management, infrastructure planning, and capital works delivery makes him well-suited to oversee core operations at the City. His qualifications include a Master of Engineering (Mining), a Graduate Diploma in Mining, a Diploma of Project Management, a Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety for Project Managers, and an anticipated Bachelor of Law. Set to make the move west, Mr Smith has more recently supported disaster recovery efforts in northern New South Wales. This blend of expertise and proven achievement will benefit the City as it progresses, guiding and leading future development.

BUDGET FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY PRIORITIES AND PROJECTS A budget that aims to deliver the services the Bunbury community expects while also focusing on the priorities identified by our residents and ratepayers, has been supported for the 2024-25 financial year. Bunbury City Council has adopted a 2024-25 Annual Budget headlined by the completion of multi-million-dollar sports facility redevelopments, road and infrastructure improvements, and support for arts and culture. The $93.8 million budget includes $23.9 million in capital works, $67 million in operating expenditure, and $2.9 million for debt reduction. As previously endorsed by Council, the budget is based on a seven per cent increase in property rates. In acknowledging the current cost-of-living pressures facing our entire community, it is important to note the City is not immune from rising costs and we are committed to delivering services and facilities that meet the expectations of our community. Like everything the City does, the rate increase and budget preparation are guided by what our community has told us they want, particularly through the 2023 MARKYT community scorecard. Providing our community with a plan to deliver the vision, goals and objectives of those community priorities outlined in our Strategic Community Plan, the Council also endorsed its Corporate Business, Workforce and Long-Term Financial plans. The suite of integrated strategic financial planning documents demonstrates the City’s capacity to deliver services, provide facilities, and manage assets that will sustain Bunbury’s future. Highlights of the budget include: • Completion of the Hands Oval redevelopment ($6.2 million) • Completion of the Forrest Park Pavilion redevelopment ($2.2 million) • Netball court refurbishment ($1.6 million) • Regional roadworks program ($1.3 million) • Playground equipment replacement ($400,000) • Beautifying Bunbury streetscapes ($210,000) To read more about the budget including more budget highlights please follow the link https://lnkd.in/gyupKweA

Summer Lovin,’ returns this November to the City of Bunbury! Back for its second year, the awesome summer program will feature a variety of events and place activations between 1 December 2024 to 31 January 2025. Summer Lovin’ will activate Bunbury's CBD and iconic waterways, with a series of community events and activities for residents and visitors to connect and participate, achieving a strong sense of community and belonging. We are accepting Expressions of Interest from community groups, event organisers and local businesses within the CBD to develop and deliver independent events and activities that align with the Summer Lovin’ criteria. Last year’s successful events/activities include 🔵 Sunset Markets at Koombana Foreshore presented by 🔵 South West Pop Up Shops and Events 🔵 Beachflix at Koombana Foreshore presented by 62Thirty Cafe & Bar 🔵 Qi-gong at Jetty Baths, presented by SilverYogis (pictured) 🔵 Chinese New Year Lantern Festival at Queens Gardens, presented by Bunbury Chinese Lantern Festival Applications close 19 August. For more information and to apply please follow the link https://lnkd.in/g7dEuuNW

CAREER OPPORTUNITY – COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Have you got what it takes to be the City of Bunbury’s Communications Officer? Our Communications Officer plays a pivotal role in shaping our internal communication strategies and fostering engagement across the City. You'll lead internal communication strategies by developing and revising annual plans to boost engagement and alignment with organisational goals. Serving as the primary liaison for internal stakeholders, you'll ensure effective communication and support, especially during times of change and crises, by implementing timely internal communication plans. You'll manage content across internal channels, coordinate impactful campaigns, and ensure all communications reflect our brand values. You'll also assist in organising and promoting internal events to enhance organisational awareness, and provide support to the wider marketing and communications team where required. This is a Part Time 12 months Fixed Term Maternity Leave Cover. If you are passionate about communications, dedicated to excellence, and thrive in a collaborative environment, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity. To find out more and to apply please visit our Careers website https://lnkd.in/giNKwYjb  

On 24 June, Bunbury had the pleasure of welcoming a Mayoral Business Delegation from Ezhou, China, organised by the WA Chinese Chamber of Commerce. The visit was aimed at exploring business collaboration opportunities and included site visits to some of Bunbury’s key enterprises. Ezhou recently constructed a professional cargo-focused airport and free-trade aviation hub, marking it the fourth of its kind globally and the first in Asia. This significant development positions Ezhou as a pivotal player in international logistics and trade. The delegation comprised a diverse group of stakeholders, including high-level representatives from the government, airport authorities, S.F. Express, the world’s fourth-largest logistics service, and provider potential buyers. Their visit included tours of V&V Walsh and the Bunbury Farmers Market, where they observed operations and discussed potential business collaborations. Mayor Miguel extended a warm welcome to the delegation and presented them with a pair of Noongar artworks as a gesture of goodwill. In return, Mayor Wang from Ezhou gifted Bunbury with an exquisite paper-cutting depicting their new airport, symbolising the strong cultural and economic ties between our cities. We look forward to many more international engagement opportunities for fruitful collaboration with our friends from Ezhou and beyond.

The City of Bunbury has appointed Andrew McRobert as the new Director of Sustainable Development. Mr McRobert will join the Executive Team as of 3 July 2024, replacing former Director Gary Barbour. The City’s Principal Project Officer for Economic Development since February 2023, Mr McRobert joins the Executive Team with decades of experience in senior leadership, planning, project management, and economic development. The Director of Sustainable Development role leads the development, support, and continuous improvement of service delivery across planning and building, community well-being, and sport and recreation for the City. Mr McRobert’s career includes founding partner and managing director of private companies, board member at Alliance Housing and consultant work for local governments. His work with the Bunbury Development Committee and South West Development Commission has been pivotal in projects such as the Glen Iris District Structure Plan and Transforming Bunbury’s Waterfront project. A long-standing resident of Bunbury and family man, Mr McRobert’s passion and connection to Bunbury will help lead the City towards its aspirations and vision.