You may have noticed Mandurah is looking a little different lately.
While the stunning waterways and enviable natural environment that Mandurah is known for remains much the same, there are several new standout projects taking shape that will change the face of the city in the months and years to come.
Mandurah’s population has exploded over the last three decades, a trend expected to continue and by 2036 more than 120,000 people are expected to call the bustling seaside city home.
The population boom has been accompanied by large infrastructure and residential developments and significant transport improvements, making Mandurah, Western Australia’s largest city outside of metropolitan Perth.
To keep pace now with its continued rapid growth, the City of Mandurah has embarked on a 10-year Transform Mandurah plan to make it one of the most liveable cities in the state, diversifying the economy and improving education pathways and employment opportunities for local residents.
The plan has started with key capital works in the City Centre, like the Waterfront Revitalisation Project, aimed at building a strong base for further capital works, and to attract more private investment like the $100million of private projects already in the pipeline.
As well as being a massive benefit for the current and future residents of Mandurah, these projects are about bringing tourism, growth, and development to the city, laying the foundations for better economic outcomes.
By improving the much-loved spaces and leveraging Mandurah’s greatest asset, the natural environment, these plans are focused on attracting new investment into the city over the next decade, and helping to address structurally high unemployment both for today, and for future generations.
Mayor Rhys Williams says momentum is most certainly growing.
He explains Mandurah has long been known for its exceptional lifestyle and its abundance of natural assets like the estuary and hundreds of kilometres of pristine coastline and foreshore.
He says the challenges facing Mandurah as the state’s largest city outside of metropolitan Perth, like its rapid population growth, are not unique and they provide important opportunities for growth and diversification.
With a large, ready workforce within 30 minutes from the City Centre and ample available land for commercial and industrial development, Mandurah is now a very competitive cost base for investors who can lease a Mandurah City Centre office for less than half the cost of Perth, and a third compared to a Sydney CBD location.
To support the vision to Transform Mandurah, the City of Mandurah is committed to removing red tape and making it easier to do business. It is doing so at an opportune time. Mandurah’s proximity to Perth means it is well placed to maximise the benefits of flexible and remote working. This, coupled with the relatively low-cost base make it an attractive option for the private sector.
However, Mr Williams says the City can’t transition alone and needs public and private sector support through ongoing investment.
“We have done our research and now have a much deeper understanding of our challenges, their causes and the key opportunities for Mandurah’s future economic development. This includes building a lifestyle capital, hospitality education, creating a bigger aged care workforce and creating a strong base for professional workers.
“We have some really positive momentum in Mandurah right now, and we are serious and determined to achieve our vision for Mandurah, to be recognised as the lifestyle alternative to Perth and the Southern City for the Perth and Peel region.”
“To achieve this, we need to transform Mandurah into an economic hub, offering more employment opportunities, particularly in skilled professional and technical services, by targeting new business activities, new education and training opportunities and new partnerships with government, the private sector, and other institutions.”
“With the right support from State and Commonwealth government, and the private sector, these projects could have a significant impact on our local economy – creating up to 3,400 full-time equivalent workers and adding an estimated $1.5b to our local economy by 2032-33.”
Mandurah aims to be known as a ‘15-minute city’, where work, home, retail, and restaurants are all in close proximity, creating the ideal conditions for employee flexible work arrangements and attracting families who want to enjoy a better work life balance.
“Mandurah offers a lifestyle like no other, making it an extremely attractive location for people to live, work, learn and invest in,” Mayor Williams explains.
“In addition, it has an incredibly supportive business environment, and a local government that prides itself on being easy to do business with.
