Question Without Notice No. 963 asked in the Legislative Council on 18 November 2010 by Hon Lynn Maclaren
Parliament: 38 Session: 1
963. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the recreational marina planned for Rous Head harbour at Fremantle.
(1) Can the minister clarify whether the type of development sought by the government for reclaimed land at Rous Head harbour will be —
(2) What percentage of the nominated 6.72 hectares will remain for boat pens and what percentage will be reclaimed and used for the stated office and shop development?
(3) Will the government mandate boat-launching facilities in the form of boat ramps and associated parking?
(4) How will clashes between recreational boat owners and commercial vessels using Rous Head harbour be addressed?
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question.
(1) (a–b) The proposed facility has been conceptualised as an integrated marina development, meaning that the fundamental elements of the design include both boat pens, with additional boat storage in an onshore boat-stacking facility, and complementary onshore commercial development. The inclusion of a ferry terminal is an option only for developers to consider and has not been mandated.
It is not envisaged that the site will be only either boat pens or commercial development; instead, it is envisaged that the site will combine meaningful elements of both uses to maximise the development’s utility for both recreational boat owners and the broader community. For further detail, I refer the honourable member to the expressions of interest document prepared by Fremantle Port Authority, which outlines the type of development for which proposals have been invited. The document is available on the Fremantle Ports website and from Fremantle Ports.
(2) This will be a matter for developers to propose in response to the expressions of interest document.
(3) No.
(4) Fremantle Ports is investigating a vessel signalling system to control access to and from Rous Head harbour, to minimise the risk of conflict between marina and commercial shipping traffic. The boundary of the marina site has also been positioned to ensure that a 50-metre-wide channel remains around its perimeter for the safe movement of vessels to and from existing operations, including the Rottnest Express facility.