McGowan Government securing the future of Port Hedland
08 November 2018
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Plans for Port Hedland's Spoilbank Marina development unveiled
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Government response to Port Hedland Dust Taskforce Report released
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McGowan Government's Plan for the Pilbara well underway
WA Government:
The McGowan Government is securing the economic
future of
Port Hedland, today progressing its commitment to build the
Spoilbank Marina while providing certainty about future development in
the West End.
Concept plans have today been unveiled for a Spoilbank Marina that meets
community recreational boating needs, provides much-needed amenity in
Port Hedland, and will be more sustainable in the long term.
The plan will deliver a
marina with initial provision for 20 boat pens,
and sufficient basin capacity to expand to 45. The development will
feature a two-lane boat ramp, two breakwaters and internal revetment
walls, and a separate access channel to exit into deeper water adjacent
to the main Port Hedland shipping channel.
Landside works will include a boat and trailer parking area, a new
combined event space and a new dry dock area for the Port Hedland Yacht
Club.
New public open spaces and retail/commercial pop-up facilities will
provide opportunities for the wider Hedland community, tourists and
nearby residents. Improved public access, parking and facilities will be
provided to take advantage of the opportunity for waterside recreation,
outdoor activities and improved access along the beach.
Detailed design work will now begin for the plan. Importantly, funding
has been set aside for a State contribution toward ongoing maintenance
costs for the marina, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the
project.
At the same time, the McGowan Government has released its response to
the Port Hedland Dust Taskforce Report, focused on decreasing dust
exposure for Hedland residents without jeopardising the industries that
underpin prosperity in the Pilbara.
Full responsibility for operating and maintaining the air quality
monitoring network will be transferred to the Department of Water and
Environmental Regulation, which will also develop a dust management
guideline for bulk handling port premises.
The Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) will be responsible
for implementing the taskforce's recommendations through an improvement
plan over the West End. The precise boundaries of that plan will be
developed in consultation with the Town of Port Hedland.
An improvement plan and scheme will be developed by the Department of
Planning, Lands and Heritage for the WAPC to consider.
Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:
"The Spoilbank Marina is an important project that my Government is
committed to delivering for the Pilbara community, and the release of
the concepts plans represents an important milestone.
"We will soon begin work on the detailed design phase to ensure the
project delivers not just for boat users, but for the Hedland community
as a whole.
"The project will inject economic activity into the region, creating
local jobs in the local Port Hedland economy.
"The release of my Government's response to the dust report is an
important step in our plans to secure the future of Hedland.
"I'm pleased we are now in a position to provide clarity the community
needs, taking into account the health of residents as well as
job-creating industries in the area."
Comments attributed to Regional Development Minister Alannah
MacTiernan:
"We see a bright future for the West End as the buzzing commercial hub
of Hedland, and our Government is taking decisive steps to achieve that
outcome.
"Our Spoilbank Marina plan will provide the waterfront amenity that Port
Hedland residents have so long aspired to, breathing new life into the
West End.
"Our response to the dust issue ensures the health of local residents
without putting at risk the industries that drive jobs for the region
and the State.
"Today marks a real step forward for Hedland residents, businesses and
particularly for the local boating community, realising a long-held
dream for the town."
Comments attributed to Pilbara MLA Kevin Michel:
"The development of the Spoilbank Marina and responding to the Hedland
dust issue are important commitments to long-term sustainable growth in
our Pilbara.
"For several years, Port Hedland residents have awaited the outcome of
investigations into dust and the recommendations from the taskforce will
provide more certainty for landowners into the future.
"The McGowan Labor Government is focused on decreasing dust exposure to
Hedland residents, addressing a long-held concern of the Hedland
community after eight years of no action from the Liberals and
Nationals."
--ENDS--
Source: Western Australia Government - www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au
Contact: Premier's office - 6552 5000 Regional Development Minister's office - 6552 6200
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