The operators of King Carnival had included a microbrewery as part of their multi-million dollar pitch to upgrade their offerings and stay on Mandurah’s western foreshore.
The Times can exclusively reveal the carnival’s plans sought to “refresh the offering” of entertainment at the iconic attraction by adding a new mini-golf course, food outlets and entertainment space in a revamp expected to cost about $15 million.
King Carnival owner David Miller said the plans sought to foster a “family friendly environment” and “make the area vibrant”.
The upgrades would have included a restaurant serving “21st century carnie food” and a small microbrewery.
The plans were prepared by architecture firm Future World Design in February 2020 and were submitted to the City of Mandurah in March 2020.
The City of Mandurah’s preferred proponent for the site currently leased by the carnival, Shelter Brewing Co operators Left Coast Leisure Group, has proposed opening a new restaurant with a micro-brewery, an 18-hole mini-golf course, a cafe and a chocolate factory on the site.
The plans for the $23 million redevelopment are currently open for public feedback through the council’s website, with Mandurah council to vote on the proposal in August.
Many of those in favour of the carnival remaining on the site — some of whom took to the streets of Mandurah in a pro-carnival demonstration in February — say they are against its redevelopment because it includes a licensed venue.
However, Mr Miller’s plans also included a microbrewery, but he said his proposal was different than LCLG’s.
“We put in a microbrewery on our proposal which was going to be in a converted sea container that could be dropped in and out for special events and functions,” he said.
“Not a 650-patron pub/restaurant with a microbrewery attached, as the mayor is proposing.”
Upgrades to the carnival also included adding a night time light show and water fountain to the park and centring its attractions around a central thoroughfare which would act as an event space for live music, markets and food stalls.
This was to be surrounded by modular shipping containers including outlets such as a lolly or ice-cream shop and the microbrewery bar, which could all be “strategically opened depending on attendance”.
As well as carnival rides, the plans included a function hall, arcade and sculpture of a “creature” made out of parts from decommissioned rides.
The carnival’s estuary facing entry was set to include a large metal frame covered in living vines.
Under the plans, the current mini-golf offering would be retained and an additional course added at the rear of the carnival that would include “Instagram worthy” elements and glow-in-the-dark holes.
Mr Miller said the mini golf development had been costed at $2 million and while the overall cost of the redevelopment had never been finalised, he believed it would be about $15m.
He said he had “all the finance in place” to fund it but claimed the City of Mandurah “completely ignored” his plans and “started looking at other options”.
“What is unbelievable is that our proposal, which was drawn up by world renowned architect Mark Buczynski from Future World Design, didn’t even make it through the first round of discussions at council,” he said.
“Very strange. The mayor also stated a number of times he didn’t want the western foreshore to compete against the eastern foreshore, he wanted world class attractions there.
“But what he’s doing is putting another pub and a chocolate factory (there) which are both competing against the eastern foreshore businesses.
“We thought negotiations were going very well, and then at the last minute the mayor just went cold on the whole thing.”
Mayor Rhys Williams said the King Carnival proposal was considered against the city’s criteria for the site along with other proposals submitted.
“King Carnival is a profit-making business,” he said.
“It would not have been appropriate or responsible to ratepayers to simply award them a long-term lease over this site without a proper process to invite proposals for the site.
“King Carnival were invited to submit as part of this process, which they did. This was evaluated against the criteria, along with other submissions.”
Mr Williams told the Times last month Left Coast Leisure Group’s proposal was chosen because it “best fit the (city’s) criteria” of being a family friendly offering, fit within the designated area and was seen as “best in line with a good outcome for the site”.
“Council has selected its preferred proponent in Left Coast Leisure Group and we are currently inviting the community to have their say about this proposal along with the broader plans for the Western Foreshore precinct,” he said.
Other proponents who put forward proposals for the site include Nokturnl, operators of the Old Synagogue in Fremantle and The Beaufort, Old Coast Road Brewery, Loftus Community Centre operators Belgravia Health and Leisure Group, Floatwest Holdings, and Capitol Corp, who run a range of hospitality businesses including Metropolis Fremantle and The Breakwater at Hillary’s.
Only Capitol Corp, Belgravia Leisure and LCLG’s proposals were endorsed by the council in May 2022 to proceed to the next stage.
Mr Miller said he intended to maintain the carnival’s rides and grounds until the lease expired and planned to hold an auction to sell off equipment early next year.