Big Ideas - What Could the Future Look Like?

The second stage of the Kununurra Reimagined journey was all about imagination. After listening to the community in Survey 1, our lead consultants Hassell came back to share the big ideas. These sparked conversations about what Kununurra’s Town Centre and Lake Foreshore could look like in the future.

Building on What We Heard

The feedback from Survey 1 told us loud and clear that people in Kununurra wanted a safer, greener and more welcoming Town Centre and a Foreshore that was active, accessible and celebrated our culture and natural beauty. At the second community forum, Hassell presented back these findings, along with a range of design principles and early concepts that showed how these hopes could come to life.

Reimagining the Town Centre

The consultants explored how the Town Centre could be transformed into a true heart of Kununurra. Some of the ideas included:

• Creating a new Town Square on Konkerberry Drive. This would be located between Kimberley Fine Diamonds and Artlandish, creating a central place for people to meet, gather and celebrate.

• Greening and cooling the streets with trees, shade and outdoor spaces to make the town more comfortable all year round.

• Infusing the Town Centre with Miriwoong culture through public art, storytelling and a cultural trail.

• Encouraging walking and cycling by making streets safer, easier to navigate and more connected to the Foreshore.

Fresh Thinking for the Foreshore

The Lake Kununurra Foreshore was recognised as one of our town’s greatest assets – but one that hasn’t yet reached its full potential. Ideas included:

• Extending shared walking and cycling trails along the water’s edge.

• Adding play spaces, swimming jetties and family-friendly areas to make the Foreshore a place for everyone.

• Introducing low-impact cafés, shelters and lookout decks that bring people closer to the lake without losing its natural character.

• Celebrating Miriwoong culture and the stories of Country through signage, art and cultural spaces.

You can view the presentation by clicking this link.

Public Art and Activation

Another focus of this stage was the role of public art and short-term activations. The consultant team proposed ideas for sculptures, laneways, interpretive art and community events that could bring new energy into the town even before large-scale changes take shape.

Looking Ahead

The second community forum and Survey 2: The Wishlist gave everyone a chance to respond to these early ideas by helping to test, refine and add to the vision. This stage wasn’t about final answers but about opening up possibilities, guided by the community’s voice and the creative input of the design team.