MLA Reece Whitby, Collie-Preston MLA Jodie Hanns and Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke host Budget breakfast

The Bunbury business community was last week given an insight into what the 2022-23 State Budget meant for them and the wider South West. Labor MLA Reece Whitby went through the new Budget, stepping in for Bunbury MLA Don Punch who could not attend due to COVID. Following the presentation, there was a 20 minute Q&A session with Mr Whitby, Collie-Preston MLA Jodie Hanns and Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke, with a series of topics discussed including infill housing, the Australind train and the South West Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Hub. During the question session, Mr Whitby was asked for his thoughts on infill development, following the potential for the City of Bunbury to soon offer incentives to ratepayers who subdivide or develop their residential properties in the city limits. “It is something we are pursuing in Perth in terms of infill,” Mr Whitby said. “It makes sense, it is cheaper to provide that mixed density in an established area. “If there is potential for that to happen in Bunbury, rather than developing new estates, I am happy to talk to Don about it. “He is a great advocate and can pursue that with the Planning Minister.” Also speaking at the breakfast, South West Development Commission chief executive Mellisa Teede said the feasibility into the development of the South West Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Hub had begun. The SWDC said previously technology and advanced manufacturing were recognised in the South West as a key economic contributor with significant scope for advancement. “We are now currently moving to the next stage of that work to do a detailed full feasibility,” Ms Teede said. “We are in discussions with Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation around what the market opportunities might be and what could be the specialisation to kick that off. “We are also in active discussions with the Bunbury Port around potential land options.” Public transport was also a topic during the question session, with Ms Clarke updating attendees on the Australind train line. Ms Clarke said the line would be closed early next year and encouraged people to enter submissions on what alternative they would like to see to commute form Bunbury to Perth. The Murray-Wellington MLA said one option was to have the system run from Bunbury to Pinjarra and then bus passengers to Mandurah where they could take the train to Perth. Ms Clarke said this could be an issue because if the train required maintenance, it would need to be done in East Perth, which is would not be able to get to. “We are currently building new trains, one will be an express train and the other will stop at all stations, and we are also upgrading all the level crossings across the train network,” Ms Clarke said. “I encourage you all, if you know anyone who uses the Australind Train to put in a submission to find out how you want to get up to Perth when we have the line shut down.” Ms Clarke said the Federal Government were also conducting a feasibility study into creating a new line between Perth and Mandurah along the Forrest Highway. “A feasibility is being down by the federal government on the Mandurah to Bunbury line,” she said. “In the middle of the Forrest Highway, there is a massive gap which has been in place for a rail network. “But there is actually no connectivity from the Mandurah Line to the Forrest Highway. “Through Murray-Wellington, we have only got the Australind Train, so I am always on the lookout for more connectivity between Bunbury and Perth. . . I think in the future, rail is the answer.” The event was hosted by the Bunbury Geographe Chamber of Commerce and Industry and SWDC.