Proposed Broome Boating Facility
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Background
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Although boating is a very popular activity in Broome with about 1600 recreational boats registered, the town has limited recreational boating facilities. The existing boat ramps at Entrance Point and Town Beach are tidally limited and the Entrance Point ramps frequently experience adverse weather conditions. Launching across the beach at Gantheaume Point is popular but this site is also exposed and affected by tides. The State Government has sought to address these problems and is investigating options for providing safe boating facilities around Broome. |
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In the challenge to find a site where a protected, all-tide boating facility can be built the Department of Transport (DoT) has examined the Broome coast from Barred Creek to Crab Creek and identified a number of possible locations. | ||
Of these sites, four were examined in more detail - Gantheaume Point, Entrance Point, Riddell Point and west Roebuck Bay.
It is considered that the only location where all-weather and all-tide facilities for small boats can be built at a reasonable cost is near the slipway site in west Roebuck Bay, adjacent to the Broome Jetty. For more details see the Broome Boating Facility report (pdf 195kb)
Ariel view of the site
Aerial photo of the vicinity of the current site plans.
The project so far
In May 2010, the State Government announced Royalties for Regions funding to construct a public boating facility in west Roebuck Bay. DoT prepared a concept plan which included a multi-lane boat ramp, protective breakwaters, a dredged basin and a floating service jetty, along with access roads and parking areas.
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A working group has been established to provide input into the project, with members from Broome Port Authority, Shire of Broome, Nyamba Buru Yawuru Ltd, Department of Regional Development and Lands, Kimberley Development Commission and DoT. In order to ensure that the facility will meet the needs of the majority of Broome boat users, DoT established a community-based reference group, with members from the:
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Broome Boating Facility report (pdf 195kb) | ||
Planning, investigation, approval and design
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Since 2010, DoT has initiated detailed planning, investigation, approval and design processes. In this phase, the land and seabed have been resurveyed, wave, tide and current data collected and baseline water quality monitoring completed. Using this information DoT has calculated the design wave heights and water levels; completed preliminary assessments of the dredge options and entrance channel stability and prepared preliminary breakwater designs. This information has also allowed DoT to prepare a number of preliminary concepts for a facility at the selected location. | |
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Where to from here?
DoT will use the results of the geotechnical investigation to refine the preliminary concepts.
These revised concepts will then become the basis for both further discussions on heritage clearances and for the detailed design of the facility.
Environmental approvals will be sought in parallel with the detailed design process.
Contact us
Department of Transport's Broome Boating Facility Project Manager
- Phone 9216 8883
- Email BroomeBoatingFacility@transport.wa.gov.au