The City of Bunbury Local Housing Strategy 2021 identified the need to significantly increase the number of residents living in areas adjacent to/nearby the City Centre. 

Under the Local Housing Strategy, the Spencer/Blair Street Precinct was identified as a Focus Area with the following actions:

1. Commence and act upon findings of investigative studies / strategies
2. Establish precinct area and undertake an investigative survey of prevailing conditions and engage with landowners
3. Pursue a contemporary ‘precinct structure plan’ approach to guide future planning and to inform the preparation of potential amendments (e.g. rezoning) to the local planning scheme.

The City is currently in the investigation stage of the project and undertaken several stages of consultation with landowners. 

First Stage of Consultation 

The first stage of consultation was undertaken in February 2022 to begin the conversation with landowners about housing opportunities within the area. Landowners were asked to fill in a survey with the following questions:

• Their interest in the land?
• Their intentions for the next 5 years?
• Their current view of the area and why?
• How they see the future of the precinct?
• What changes would they like to see in the area?
• Have you considered redeveloping and including mixed uses (commercial and residential) and/or residential development such as apartments?

The City recieved 54 surveys which represents just over 25% of the landowners. The key issues raised from the survey results were:

• Land use permitted within the service commercial zone (some landowners wanting to see more residential)
• Lack of desire to develop properties – and specifically for residential
• Road condition, limited road widths and one-way only streets
• Streetscape upgrades (undergrounding power, more street trees, street lighting)
• Provision and condition of footpaths
• Verge maintenance
• Water, drainage, and sewer concerns
• Existing amenity – commercial vs residential
• Overhead power – staging
• Allowing redevelopment in a more staged approach to keep some areas commercial
• Amenities for residential (public open space required)
• Car parking problems
• Heritage/character significance of some properties
• Hard to cross Blair and Spencer Street as a pedestrian

After reviewing the consultation results, the City have determined that the second stage of consultation was required to further explore the themes raised in the first stage of consultation prior to any decision being made about rezoning to ensure the planning framework amendments are responsive to key issues and concerns.

Second Stage of Consultation

The City engaged a consultant, Urbis to assist in undertaking the next stage of consultation and to produce an Outcomes Report which collated the information collected through the consultation. The second stage of consultation further explored the themes that came out of the first stage of consultation. In October/November 2022 Urbis and the City held an in person workshop session and several online workshops with landowners, met with State Departments and other members of the community who has experience in housing such as real estate agents and architects. 

The results showed that the key issues for residential development in the area raised by the participants of the consultation include:

1. The present cost and demand for mixed use development are a barrier
2. The absence of an aligned and integrated vision is a barrier
3. Improvement of pedestrian networks and environment will be important
4. There is a need to improve roads and infrastructure
5. There is a desire to retain current businesses
6. More open spaces/parks are sought
7. Parking improvements were identified as a need
8. There is potential for a demonstration project

This concludes the preliminary investigation into the project and in terms of the next steps for project, the City is now considering how best to proceed based on the investigation to date and what changes need to occur to facilitate more residential opportunities in the area.

Part 6 of the Outcomes Report (see Document Library on the right hand side of the page) includes options for the City to consider. The City is currently exploring options such as further studies and technical reports to be undertaken, liaising with State Government agencies and considering what changes need to be made in the public realm, building controls, zoning and land use permissibility. This information is currently being reviewed and the City is also reaching out the State Government agencies to discuss the opportunities for assistance.

The next stages will include further consultation and options for feedback.