Background oCouncil's decisions relating to the investigation into the concept of Bunbury Ocean Pool

In February 2021, Coastal Engineers, MP Rogers, completed an Ocean Pool Feasibility – Fatal Flaw Proof of Concept Study, for the proposed Bunbury Ocean Pool.

In  August 2021, Council (10 August Council Decision 163/21) resolved to:

1. Endorse the Bunbury Ocean Pool Fatal Flaw Proof of Concept Study

2. Acknowledges the Ocean Pool Feasibility Fatal Flaw Proof of Concept Study makes a finding of no fatal flaws in the concept of an Ocean Pool.

3. Note the State Governments Election commitment of $250,000 for further investigative works as identified in the Study and the addition of a further $50,000 in the City of Bunbury’s 2021/22 Financial Budget

The Ocean Pool Feasibility Fatal Flaw Proof of Concept Study  found that there are no fatal flaws with the proposed Ocean Pool and recommended a suite of investigations and progression of the design. A series of recommendations were made to refine the concept and reduce project risk through reduction of costs and operational running costs. The primary recommendation was to reduce the overall pool size to better suit the commercial aspects, expected usage/patronage, and business case recommendations.

MP Rogers included a recommendation to complete additional investigations and studies to further develop the scheme and its feasibility. These studies were undertaken by the City of Bunbury concurrently with the concept plan refinement process. The studies included geotechnical, environmental, water-quality, benthic, heritage and business case development. These reports were evaluated, and the findings integrated into the refinement process in conjunction with the project & consultant team.

The City engaged consultants to undertake the investigative works which have been used to prepare the Bunbury Ocean Pool Business Case.

At the 27 June 2023 Council Meeting Council:

1. Endorsed the Bunbury Ocean Pool Business Case and Concept Plan

2. Requested that the Chief Executive Officer undertake further community and stakeholder engagement regarding the Concept Plan during July and August 2023.

3. Requested that the Chief Executive Officer continue with the identified next steps of project feasibility including:

a. Further Aboriginal community consultation in regard to heritage and traditional storylines,

b. Commence discussions with regulatory authorities,

c. Identify funding opportunities including private, State and Federal Government sources, and

4. Request that the Chief Executive Officer identify and seek funding sources to enable the, commencement of further development of the concept plan to schematic design phase and to progress to detailed project design and report back to Council for consideration of progressing the Ocean Pool project.

(Council Decision 109/23) CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 11 votes “for” / nil votes “against”.

For further information on this Council decision, please refer to 27 June Council Meeting Minutes in the Document Library (on the right-hand side of this page).

Ocean pools are swimming enclosures located on the open coast.

They afford protected access to the ocean.

They are flushed by natural salt water, exposed to the natural processes of tides, currents and waves and are located in the intertidal zone.

Ocean pools provide a protected ocean swimming experience and permit users with mobility issues or impairments and the young/elderly to access the ocean in varying conditions.

The Wyalup Rocky Point area of Bunbury is a rocky section of coastline, whereby this section is primarily composed of basalt that formed from lava flows which occurred approximately 130 million years ago.

To protect this area and prevent the often dangerous and illegal mining of basalt, the Bunbury Council took control of the site in the 1890’s. At this time, the Bunbury Council was also considering ways to improve the appeal of Bunbury and attract tourists to the area and proposed the idea of an ocean pool.

During a visit of the WA State Engineers in the 1890’s, the optimal location for an ocean pool was determined to be at the end of Symmons Street. In 1907, the Bunbury Council began the process of initiating the Bunbury Basalt Quarry, with the eventual goal of creating a world class ocean pool.

The Basalt Quarry continued to operate for over 20 years as it slowly approached the desired pool dimensions of 82 m long, 18 m wide and 3 m deep.

With the onset of the depression during the 1930’s and the subsequent building of the Bunbury Back Beach Baths, the quarry ocean pool concept was abandoned. In the late 1940’s the Basalt Quarry was closed and during 1950’s, the Basalt Quarry became an unofficial local attraction as a swimming hole and camping ground for visitors. However, the area slowly began to fill with sand and by the early 1960’s the quarry was filled and swimming was no longer possible.

The opportunity for a new Ocean Pool was revived in the early 2010s, when a masterplan was prepared for the foreshore precinct which noted the opportunity, with the preferred location being Wyalup Rocky Point.

An initial concept for the pool was prepared by Calibre Consulting, with MP Rogers engaged in February 2021 to complete an Ocean Pool Feasibility: Fatal Flaw Proof of Concept Study.

The City since have commissioned a business case which further defines the opportunity for an ocean pool, including concept, cost estimate, financial modelling and funding strategy, in order to allow for the project to progress to the next phase of investigation.

Parallel to this process, geotechnical, environmental and indigenous heritage survey investigations have also being undertaken at Wyalup Rocky Point to further determine the proposals viability.

The proposed location for the Ocean Pool is Wyalup Rocky Point, situated at the end of Symmons Street and along Ocean Drive. The site was previously utilised as a former quarry, which has since now been redeveloped as passive open space, with the provision for public shelters, toilet amenities, BBQ facilities and children’s play equipment.

Directly east of the site is Bunbury Recreation Oval, utilised by the Bunbury Cricket and Runners Club, respectively, while to the South is the Bunbury Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC).

The estimated capital cost to deliver the Bunbury Ocean Pool is $17.82M consisting of the ocean pool associated amenities and surrounding landscaping works. The City’s funding strategy for the capital costs of the project would be to seek contributions from the State and Federal Governments to match city funding and further consideration of private funding opportunities.

It is estimated that ongoing operational costs would be $385,000pa. Based on a 20-year financial operational model and including renewal and operational cost the City would need to be setting aside an amount of $611,350pa. The Business Case considers a number of ongoing financial scenario’s for supporting the ongoing operational and renewal costs including the disposal of land and the leasing of government land for further development similar to the Busselton Jetty model. Should the Ocean Pool project development continue then further consideration of this modelling will need to be considered.

The City was provided with a $250,000 grant from the Department of Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries on top of the City’s $130,000 contribution for the feasibility studies.

Please note that City funding for this project is not secured at this time. The City's Corporate Business Plan has budgetary provision only for further research into the viability of the ocean pool. 

Should the Bunbury Ocean Pool be constructed it would represent the first true ocean pool constructed in Australia in 60 plus years and the first in Western Australia; this would prove a major tourist attraction to the region and the state.

With the development of the Ocean Pool, further consideration of the surrounding precinct will be needed including how this can support the ongoing operational and renewals costs. Should the Ocean Pool project proceed, the City will need to work with State Government to precinct plan the surrounding area.

At this early stage, the City want to gauge community sentiment to support progressing the proposed project.

The next steps of investigating project feasibility include:

a. Further Aboriginal community consultation in regard to heritage and traditional storylines,

b. Commencement of discussions with regulatory authorities,

c. Identify funding opportunities including private, State and Federal Government sources and,

d. Seek funding to enable commencement of further development of the concept plan to schematic design phase.

For further information on this Council decision, please refer to 27 June Council Meeting Minutes in the Document Library (on the right-hand side of this page).