The next phase of Mandurah’s Western Foreshore transformation started today, with the State Government opening its public comment period on the land use for the commercial component of the development.
In August 2024, Mandurah Council supported plans to create a new family-focused hospitality precinct on a small part of the Western Foreshore (in the area where the King Carnival was operating), along with a precinct plan that will see major upgrades in the public spaces adjacent to the new skate park and children's playground, completed in 2022.
Following Council’s decision, the City of Mandurah started the process of seeking a land excision of a small portion of the Western Foreshore reserve from the State Government to lease the land for commercial use. This portion is proposed to become a licensed restaurant, microbrewery, 18-hole mini-golf course, café, and chocolate production and retail space.
The entire Western Foreshore Recreation Precinct is just over 100,000sqm, and of this land, about 68,500sqm is recognised as A-class. The City is asking for an area of approximately 8,000sqm of A-class land to be excised; essentially ‘reclassified’ to be used for recreation, leisure and hospitality. The 8,000sqm portion is slightly larger than the previous commercial space (King Carnival), with the difference being used to maximise tree retention, ensuring that an 18-hole mini golf experience can be created. The mini-golf course will wind through existing trees.
This land excision process requires approval from the State Government and part of that process allows for the community to comment on the plan. The public has until 14 December 2025 to leave their feedback. The consultation page can be found through the City’s Western Foreshore webpage mandurah.wa.gov.au/westernforeshore
If approved by Parliament, the Department of Planning Lands and Heritage will then consider leasing the site to the City of Mandurah. The City of Mandurah will then consider a sub-lease to Left Coast Leisure Group. If all the steps proceed, a Development Application from the commercial space proponent will be reviewed by the WA Planning Commission, and the public will have a further chance to have their say. Traffic management and liquor licensing will also be progressed separate to this current process.
Mayor Amber Kearns encouraged the community to get involved during the State Government’s feedback phase.
“This project has the potential to bring new life to a small section of the Western Foreshore, adding family-friendly activities and helping create a space people can enjoy year-round,” Mayor Kearns said. “It is important that change in this well-loved area is carefully considered and as we move into the next phase of this proposed development, we are encouraging everyone to have their say. This project is an integral part of the vision for Mandurah’s future.
“This is a transformative project with a huge amount of careful and detailed forward-thinking and planning, which will ultimately bring long-lasting benefits to our city, including jobs, private investment, and commitment to partner with South Metropolitan TAFE, while providing a revenue source to the City that will be used to fund public infrastructure that would otherwise have to be funded by ratepayers.
“The proposed commercial development represents the largest private investment in Mandurah’s City Centre in decades, and together with the enhanced public amenities for the whole area, we are helping to create far-reaching benefits for our community and our economy.”
For more information on the project and a link to the State Government public consultation, go to www.mandurah.wa.gov.au/westernforeshore
