Mandurah mayor Rhys Williams continues to advocate for the state and federal government to get on board with its Transform Mandurah plan to revitalise the economy and create long-term local jobs.
This plea comes following a number of government funding and election commitments, which include upgrades to the Peel Health Campus, more police, and the installment of a Peel-Harvey estuary protection plan.
Mr Williams said while he was "really grateful" for the commitments made recently without addressing structural unemployment issues Mandurah would continue to struggle.
"We've made it really clear to the premier, opposition leader and to anyone who will listen," he said.
"Unless we tackle the structural unemployment, which is not going to be solved without proper, strong engagement of government then we will fall short of reaching Mandurah's potential.
"The announcements that have been made to date we are really grateful for but we need to address these structural issues in Mandurah to make us an economy that fits a thriving city."
Read more on the Transform Mandurah plan:
The Transform Mandurah plan includes a waterfront project to revamp the eastern and western foreshores and the Smart Street Mall, the relocation of a government agency and creation of a new civic square, a tourism precinct, and the activation of Yalgorup National Park.
The City of Mandurah have been calling on the state government to establish a government agency in Mandurah, which focuses on water science.
"We want to establish the Australian Waterways Centre of Excellence here in Mandurah as a place where great water science is happening," Mr Williams said.
"It will ensure that as our population grows into the future Mandurah is seen as a place that's got great opportunities for people not only to be able to live but also to work."
Read more on the Transform Mandurah plan:
City of Mandurah staff met with the Premier in October to pitch the project, which could revitalise the economy and create job growth.
Mandurah MP David Templeman said there was no better place in Australia to have a water science government department.
"The City pitched a very strong case for not only an investment in terms of a government department but also the focus on the water science," he said.
"There is no better place in Australia to have water science and research - we have the estuarine system, the ocean, and the river systems.
"The Premier is very interested and we want to have further conversations and we'll have those up until the election and beyond because we want to see those projects come to fruition."