Mandalay Holiday Resort in Busselton is set for a significant upgrade following the approval of a multimillion-dollar redevelopment plan.
The Regional Development Assessment Panel has approved the demolition of eight aging chalets, which will be replaced with modern two-story accommodations at an estimated cost of $8 million.
According to a report by Business News, the approval removes a previous condition requiring a public art contribution, which would have cost the owners, Clive and Margaret Johnson, at least $80,000.
City of Busselton councilor and DAP member Kate Cox noted the substantial investment the owners have already made into the resort and agreed that the art contribution should be an advisory note rather than a mandatory requirement.
“As they’re replacing existing aging chalets and just upgrading the facility, I would agree that the percentage for art should be an advice note as opposed to a condition,” Cox said during the meeting.
Mandalay Holiday Resort, established in 1964, has been family-owned and operated for five decades.
The park currently offers 120 accommodation sites, and the planned redevelopment is expected to enhance the guest experience while keeping the property competitive in a growing tourism market.
With customer expectations evolving, ongoing investment in modern facilities is increasingly essential for operators in the outdoor hospitality sector.
“I think it’s great that the operators of these types of tourism ventures are continually upgrading their facilities and keeping up with what is expected from the current or modern customer,” said DAP specialist member Jacky Jurmann.
Beyond Mandalay’s redevelopment, the City of Busselton has also received a separate proposal for a 10-chalet tourist accommodation project, including a communal pavilion, on Cape Naturaliste Road.
Estimated at $12 million, this development highlights the continued demand for high-quality accommodation options in the region.
For business owners in the outdoor hospitality industry, these projects signal an ongoing push for modernization and reinvestment to align with shifting traveler preferences and maintain competitiveness in the market.