CBD businesses look for opportunities

Business leaders have called for increased population density to be coupled with attractive open spaces for Bunbury's CBD to thrive.

A number of significant projects including the Koombana North development are set to change inner Bunbury by increasing living options and tourism opportunities.

Leaders including REIWA Bunbury chairman Drew Cary have described this as a chance to draw people into Bunbury by making developments attractive for residents and visitors.

"Koombana North could be a mini-Marlston and take advantage of the waterfront with great housing," he said.

"You want to find a good mix of amenities and facilities to bring people to the area. The more amenities you can build into a project and have a wide range of people use it, the more attractive it will be to Bunbury as a whole."

Bunbury Chamber of Commerce president David Kerr agreed amenities were crucial and said green space in the CBD was valued as a de facto backyard by those in higher density housing.

Mr Kerr, who is also the Dolphin Discovery Centre's general manager, said these developments could create business opportunities.

"To become more of a tourism destination than we are now, we need to have a critical mass of attractions," he said.

"A clustering of attractions and things to do gives a much more positive outcome because of the vibrancy that comes with developments.

"One of the other benefits is a positive effect on community safety because it's a fact that if you have more eyeballs in an area after hours, security is improved."

Commercial Realty sales and leasing director Geoff Hill said "culture, diversity and population density" were the keys to a thriving CBD.

"I feel the culture is already changing and now we need to focus on diversity through commercial development, innovation and business and population density through residential developments such as Koombana North," he said.

Mr Hill also highlighted developments such as Victoria Square, which his company is leasing and includes a residential component, and Bunbury's increase in small bars and restaurants as being drawcards to CBD living.