Mandurah could be home to a state government department in the future as part of the the City's long-term Transform Mandurah plan.
The agency would be based in a new civic square in the heart of Mandurah, alongside a relocated City of Mandurah administration building, retail precinct and transport hub.
The exciting and bold 10-year strategy aims to revitalise the city centre and diversify the local economy.
Last month, the Mandurah Mail reported on the agenda, which is broken down into four key parts.
The first includes the City Centre Waterfront Project to revamp the eastern and western foreshores and the Smart Street Mall.
Construction is already underway on the $22 million plan, which is fully funded by the City of Mandurah and state and local governments.
Read more on the Transform Mandurah plan:
As well as upgrades to the western end of the town centre, the first component of the plan also includes the creation of a commercial hub and civic square around the current Woolworths precinct and George Robinson Gardens.
The land, which is owned by council, would become a civic square with City of Mandurah chambers and staff to relocate alongside a new state government department and an Australian Waterways Centre of Excellence.
A retail precinct and pedestrian mall would be based around the agencies and a rapid new transit node providing public transport connections between the Mandurah Train Station and Smart Street Mall would be created on Sutton Street.
In an interview with the Mandurah Mail, Mandurah mayor Rhys Williams said relocating a government agency to within the civic square would be key to its success.
"If you can bring a workforce of hundreds of people into the city centre, that activates it during the day with people buying sandwiches or coffees or, further, moving to Mandurah," he said.
Mr Williams also elaborated on the plan further in a Facebook video posted to his page in May.
"We want to create that commercial hub we are looking for... redeveloping our city centre will bring more of that commercial activity," he said.
"In some parts of our city centre, things are looking a little tired so we need to find incentives for investors to come in and build things in our city centre.
"These are the sorts of things we will be able to do with some investment from state and federal government, plus ourselves over the next decade. We've begun to talk to [them] about this and will be looking to negotiate over the next couple of years on this.
We're trying to change this story of a very small, local economy into something that is more aspirational and vibrant.
- Mandurah mayor Rhys Williams
"We're trying to change this story of a very small, local economy into something that is more aspirational and vibrant.
"This is a really clear signal that Mandurah is growing up."
The Mandurah Mail will continue to explore the four components of the Transform Mandurah plan in more detail over the coming weeks.
The next article will look into the second key part of the agenda - the establishment of an Australian Waterways Centre of Excellence and bringing industry, science and education together in one space.
What do you think about the plan? Email editor@mandurahmail.com.au.
