Published 20 February 2026, updated 23 February 2026
The City of Bunbury has taken action to close two accommodation premises due to serious health and safety concerns.
Why did the City take this action?
The City has been addressing ongoing compliance issues at these premises for some time. On 20 January 2026, City officers identified an urgent asbestos risk at one of the premises which posed a direct risk to the health and safety of residents.
The property owners were made aware of these serious concerns. In the weeks that followed, the City received no evidence that the asbestos risks and other compliance issues had been addressed. This left the City with no option but to serve formal closure notices on 6 February 2026 to protect the health and safety of residents.
Why couldn’t residents stay while issues were fixed?
The identified asbestos contamination means the premises cannot be safely occupied while remediation works are undertaken. The safety of residents must come first.
What is the City doing to support affected residents and businesses?
The City recognises the impact of these closures extends beyond the immediate residents. We are working to connect affected individuals with accommodation support services where we can and have proactively reached out to local businesses and industry groups to offer support and connections with relevant employment and accommodation services.
If you require urgent housing, please call Crisis Care on 1800 199 008 or Entry Point on 1800 124 684 for assistance.
Can the premises reopen?
There are pathways available for the operators to bring these premises back into compliance and permit them to be occupied again. The City has provided the operators with specific information about what is required to achieve compliance.
Why can’t the City say more?
As the City has served formal statutory notices which may be subject to legal proceedings, it is not appropriate to provide further detail at this time.
The City’s priority remains the health and safety of all residents and visitors to our community. We will not compromise on safety, but we are committed to supporting those affected through this transition.