Mandurah could be home to a waterways centre of excellence in the future as part of the City's long-term Transform Mandurah plan.
The centre would bring industry, science and education together in one space with university courses run from the centre and local technology available to help Mandurah's waterways.
Read more on the Transform Mandurah plan:
In an interview with the Mandurah Mail, Mandurah mayor Rhys Williams said the City's waterways would revitalise and diversify the economy.
"Our focus is on targeting specific industries focused on Mandurah's competitive advantage, which is the water," he said.
"The research centre itself will be combination of interpretive centre, co-located businesses as well as the research being conducted.
"We have an economy focused only around tourism and hospitality and we need to change that."
Mr Williams also said the City's waterways would be an "incredible asset for tourism and research".
"The Peel-Harvey Estuary system is twice the size of Sydney Harbour - It's really unique, and really susceptible to tidal changes as a result of climate changes," he said.
"The reality is kids in Mandurah are growing up here knowing they are living in the place that is the best in Australia to study water science.
"We intend to work right from grassroots level, with primary school right through to tertiary education courses run out of the water sciences centre."
Read more on Mandurah's waterways:
The City have begun discussions with universities to establish beginnings of community engagement.
On Tuesday, City of Mandurah councillors also unanimously endorsed a business case for advanced technology, which will monitor the health of the Peel-Harvey estuary.
The monitoring technology will act as a catalyst for attracting the water science industry to Mandurah.
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 third key part of the agenda - a tourism precinct linking the Mandurah Ocean Marina to the city centre, including an "international standard" hotel and convention centre.