Published 20 August 2026
The City of Bunbury has a clear plan to improve parking in the City Centre, with Council adopting the City of Bunbury City Centre Parking Strategy 2025–2035 at its 18 August Ordinary Council Meeting.
The evidence-based strategy provides a practical, long-term framework to guide how parking is managed and delivered across the City Centre over the next 20 years – with a range of actions starting in the short term.
Bunbury Mayor Jaysen Miguel said the strategy responded to what the community had been asking for.
“We know parking is important to our community, our businesses and our visitors, and this strategy is about getting on with practical improvements, not just talking about them,” Mayor Miguel said.
“One of our key early priorities is improving parking enforcement, so those high-demand bays right in the heart of the City Centre are available for shoppers, customers and visitors – rather than being taken up by all-day parkers.
“We’re also looking at how we can make parking just a short walk from the centre safer and more inviting, so we make the most of the parking we already have.”
The strategy includes a 20-year Parking Action Plan with short, medium and long-term actions, including:
- Improved parking enforcement to free up high-demand bays
- Making peripheral car parks safer and more inviting to encourage ‘park and walk’
- Increasing accessible (ACROD) parking across the City Centre
- Upgrading Smart Parking technology and data to better manage parking in real time
- Planning for electric vehicle charging infrastructure
Analysis undertaken for the strategy found that while parking across the City Centre is generally adequate (with overall peak occupancy of around 66 per cent) some locations, experience high demand at peak times.
“We understand the frustration of not being able to find a park in the busiest spots, and this strategy is squarely focused on easing that pressure where it matters most,” Mayor Miguel said.
The strategy also identifies potential future locations for a multi-deck car park, should it be needed.
“The current data tells us we don’t need a multi-deck car park just yet, but we’re planning ahead by identifying the best sites and beginning the early planning work,” Mayor Miguel said.
“That way, the City is ready to act at the right time, and any investment is based on solid evidence."
Mayor Miguel said the strategy was a living document that would be reviewed regularly, and that the community and local businesses would have opportunities to help shape its implementation.
“This is very much the start of a conversation. We’ll be working closely with our business community and residents as we develop the detail and roll out actions over time,” he said.
“I’d like to thank everyone who has already contributed, including the members of our City Centre Activation Advisory Group and the businesses who took part in our recent information sessions.”
