Waterfront decision in ‘next few weeks’

Work could begin on the controversial $45 million Waterfront development before the next State election, according to Bunbury MLA John Castrilli.

Planning Minister John Day is assessing three amendments to the Greater Bunbury Region Scheme after submissions on Marlston North, Koombana North and Koombana South closed last May.

When asked by the Bunbury Herald if work would start on the project prior to the 2013 election, a bullish Mr Castrilli said, ‘‘absolutely’’.

‘‘I am very hopeful that we will see some action on the ground by then at the Bunbury waterfront,’’ he said.

‘‘That is my genuine hope and I for one will be working extremely hard to make sure that that happens.’’

The State Government came under fire from Labor’s South West MLC Adele Farina last week after she accused it of fast tracking the $270 million Perth waterfront project over Bunbury’s development.

She said despite 12 months passing since the proposed planning amendments to regional scheme were released for public comment, there was still no word from the Government on the Bunbury Waterfront project.

‘‘It is interesting to note that the Perth project comprises a comprehensive plan while the Bunbury Waterfront proposal comprises three piecemeal sites with no comprehensive plan for activating the Bunbury waterfront,’’ Ms Farina said.

However, Mr Castrilli, said a decision would be made in ‘‘the ext few weeks’’ and that the three sites would be the catalyst to start the overall project.

‘‘These become a tangible start which will then become the building blocks for the project,’’ he said.

‘‘If you do it as one big project it could take years and years and years and may never get done.

‘‘Let’s break it up into bite-sized pieces and they then can be the building blocks for the future; we’ve got to start somewhere.’’

Bunbury Mayor David Smith said the council was waiting on a decision from Mr Day before it would initiate amendments to Town Planning Scheme 7, which was required for the project to go ahead.