$400K entry statement to entice people to Bunbury

Bunbury city councillors are hoping a big, digital billboard on Forrest Highway will be the answer to enticing more people to stop in Bunbury.

The council in December agreed to a $400,000 Bunbury Gateway Entry Statement, jointly funded by the council and the State Government.

The electronic billboard will be installed at the information bay just north of the Shell Gateway service station by WA-based contractor Compac Marketing Australia, with work set to begin early this year.

It will display images of popular tourism attractions like the Dolphin Discovery Centre and the Bunbury Waterfront, as well as upcoming events in the Bunbury Geographe region. The statement will target motorists travelling into Bunbury from the north, and Mayor Gary Brennan said the location was the “perfect spot” to catch people’s attention and tempt people to visit.

“Bunbury has so much to offer and explore and any opportunity to promote all the great things in our city to those heading south is a positive for our local businesses and tourism industry,” he said. “We have stepped away from static billboard advertising and moved towards a dynamic and modern digital sign which allows for more opportunity for promotion.”

Conditions for the billboard include no more than 10 slides being programmed at one time, with each slide displayed for at least a minute.

Transitional effects will also be prohibited, with slides required to be static in nature.

It is part of a bigger tourism drive by the city, which includes hosting more events, CBD activation through lighting and greening and increased marketing of the coastal city’s offerings.

Work on the statement, which is aimed at promoting Bunbury as a place to “live, invest and visit,” is expected to be completed by April.