Mandurah has experienced many years of sustained population growth of up to four times greater than the State average growth rates, and is recognised as one of Australia’s fastest growing regional cities. However like other rapidly-growing places around Australia’s beautiful coastline, its popularity as a lifestyle ‘Seachange’ destination creates particular challenges in terms of employment opportunities, education, services, infrastructure and transport accessibility being able to keep up with demand.

The ‘Southern City’ strategy recognises Mandurah is facing a number of social, economic and environmental challenges as the city and its region grow at a very fast pace. The City aims to take on these challenges and create opportunities for a sustainable future by developing a 30 year strategic outlook through the Southern City strategy, a 10 year strategic and capital plan, and a rolling program of short term actions to deliver some priority projects – together with a framework to measure and monitor outcomes. The Southern City strategy also identifies the need for an extended governance structure to share these responsibilities, including the participation of the State and Australian Governments.
 
The Mandurah and Murray local government areas are in the southern expansion corridor of the State Government’s ‘Network City’ strategy, and ongoing urban growth is inevitable. There are clear choices between doing nothing and letting Mandurah become a series of dormitory suburbs as a southern extension of Perth, or taking strong actions to ensure it retains its identity and as much of its current attractiveness and opportunities as possible. As the Strategy and Action Plan on this website points out,  it is not practicable to simply ’shut the gate’ and prevent further development, maintain a ‘status quo’ or impose onerous costs on the local population. Change is inevitable. Over the next few years – and beyond - the city must harness the powerful growth forces to support the strategic vision for its future sustainability.

Although the consultation process associated with the Southern City strategy began 12 months ago and is now drawing to a close, comments, ideas and suggestions are still welcome. A report is being prepared for the Council’s consideration in October, so please feel free to respond to the opportunities here for comments and input. There will also be a purpose-built website operating from around that time, with opportunities for ongoing community and stakeholder engagement.

Related Documents

 Mandurah Southern City Information Session

 Southern City Strategy Action Plan Report

 Southern City Strategy