King Carnival is set to continue in Mandurah for a little longer after being offered a lease extension by the City of Mandurah.
The city last week gave the owner of the iconic attraction, David Miller, an additional six-month lease, which chief executive Casey Mihovilovich said would allow it to remain on the western foreshore “until at least November 2024”.
The site has been earmarked for major redevelopment, with Busselton’s Shelter Brewing Co. understood to be the preferred proponent for a 21-year tenure.
“The city is progressing the legally required major land transaction process, during which the city will invite the community to have their say on the business plan detailing the preferred proponent’s proposal for the western foreshore commercial site,” Ms Mihovilovich said.
“Council will then consider the community feedback on the proposed business plan and decide whether to proceed with the transaction.”
Mr Miller told the Mandurah Times he wanted an extension beyond November because summer was the carnival’s busiest time.
“As soon as we got it (the lease document) back, we said that’s unsuitable because half the year it’s underwater down here, it floods,” he said.
“In August last year there was like two inches of water and the carpark was full of water.
“So you’ve got to be fair; you can’t just give us the wet season and take away the summer.”
He was scheduled to meet Ms Mihovilovich this week after the Times had gone to print to iron out details and was expected to sign off on the lease.
The news that the carnival’s days are numbered has drawn an outcry from its fans, with hundreds of people walking in a rally from King Carnival to the council chambers in February to show their support for the attraction.
Ms Mihovilovich said she expected the community would be able to have its say on the commercial site’s proposed business plan and the city’s plans for the wider Western Foreshore Leisure Precinct — which includes the King Carnival site, as well as the skate park, playground, oval and war memorial — after the May 28 council meeting.