Bunbury serious about water fun

Bunbury city councillors hope a water playground on the edge of the Leschenault Inlet will be a beacon for tourists.

At Tuesday's meeting, Bunbury City Council voted in favour of allowing council staff prepare detailed designs and costs for the playground.

The water playground has been designed to open most of the year, cater for all ages and include a kiosk, change rooms and toilets as well as hundreds of sprays.

The concept plan has a marine theme based on Bunbury's old timber jetty and includes numerous grassed areas for the public.

Mayor Gary Brennan said chief executive officer Andrew Brien and his staff would prepare a report, including detailed designs and costs, for the council to consider.

"They will return back to us ready to go for tender," Mr Brennan said.

Cr Michelle Steck, who opposes the council's involvement in building the water playground, previously claimed it would cost about $7 million to build and $250,000 a year to maintain.

However, this was denied by Mr Brennan.

During the debate, Cr Steck said she was opposed to the council building the water playground because it was the responsibility of "private industry", comparing it to Adventure World in Perth.

Cr Betty McCleary was concerned it would be too expensive for ratepayers to maintain the tourist attraction.

However, Cr Sam Morris said there was many ways to ensure the cost to ratepayers was minimised.

He said the playground would have economic benefits because it would attract visitors to Bunbury.

Meanwhile, the council has agreed to allow a consultant prepare a detailed design for upgrading Koombana Drive.

The plan for the upgrade includes building cycling lanes along a 600m section of the road. The council was told the road needed the work because of erosion.