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Seagrass accumulation at Jurien Boat Harbour is responsible for a deterioration in dissolved oxygen levels in the harbour leading to a fish kill event and a temporary closure of the beach at the facility.

As the facility manager, the Department of Transport (DoT) has acted to temporarily close the beach and recommends people do not swim in the water or consume fish caught in the marina.

Pet owners have also been warned not to allow contact with dead or decomposing fish either in the water or onshore.

DoT Acting Manager of Coastal Facilities James Holder said local contractors had been engaged to remove dead fish from the beach inside the harbour.

“The Shire of Dandaragan has erected warning signs on the harbour beach, and in conjunction with the Department of Health is monitoring water quality levels. DoT will continue to maintain a clean shoreline,” Mr Holder said.

DoT implemented a multi-facetted data collection program at the harbour in 2014 and the results are being used in detailed modelling to determine achievable long-term strategies to address environmental issues at the facility.

Environmental approvals are in progress for harbour dredging with works expected in 2020.

Further information about the project is available from the DoT website.

Media contact: media@transport.wa.gov.au

The State’s readiness to respond to a large-scale oil spill off the coast will be further enhanced next week as the Department of Transport (DoT) partners with Shell to stage a response exercise.

Shell’s Prelude Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) facility off the Broome coast will provide the scenario for Exercise Browse Challenge - a cross jurisdiction oil spill incident which aims to build relationships with industry and Commonwealth authorities to benefit a real-life response effort by the State.

DoT Maritime Deputy General Manager Ray Buchholz said the exercise would test current processes to ensure a well-coordinated and effective response to an incident – particularly the arrangements for dealing with a large-scale spill by a private operator impacting State and Commonwealth jurisdictions.

“Trained oil spill response personnel from DoT and other State agencies such as the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions will be working with counterparts from Shell and Commonwealth authorities such as National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to simulate a coordinated response,” Mr Buchholz said.

“The exercise presents an opportunity for the participating organisations to measure their individual preparedness and response capabilities as well as their ability to work collectively.
 
“The two-day exercise commencing September 17, 2019, will build on the learnings of a similar event in 2017 which provided participants with a realistic response scenario to an incident off the Ningaloo coast.”

DoT is the State’s lead agency for ensuring an effective response to maritime environmental emergencies.
 
The State is well prepared to respond to major maritime environmental emergencies and exercises such as this provide a valuable opportunity to enhance response arrangements.
 
Approximately 110 people from up to 15 organisations will be involved in what is a significant opportunity to boost skills and hone the State’s plans for dealing with a major spill.

For further information about maritime environmental emergency response arrangements in WA, visit the DoT website. 

Media Contact: media@transport.wa.gov.au

The Department of Transport is calling on Western Australians to help shape the 10-year blueprint for our capital city’s transport network.

A survey is now open for the community to have their say on the development of the Perth Greater CBD Transport Plan.

The aim of the plan is to help create a well-connected and vibrant city centre by keeping it moving with an optimised transport network.

The feedback received as part of the survey will be used to develop the Plan which will outline a 10-year vision for transport investment in Perth’s city centre providing additional transport options, recreational opportunities and support for tourism and commercial activity.

Craig Wooldridge, the Department of Transport’s A/Executive Director Urban Mobility said the Perth Greater CBD Transport Plan will identify the infrastructure, programs and services required to keep the Perth CBD moving as it grows, and how to get the best use from that infrastructure.

“A dynamic and vibrant city relies on having a transport system that embraces innovative solutions and prioritises the movement of people through sustainable options – walking, bike riding and public transport,” he said.

“With major projects planned or underway it is vital we ensure our transport network can continue to support and improve the inner-city experience for everyone.

"We want as much input as possible, so I would urge all interested parties to take the survey and help guide the transport future of Perth’s CBD for the next decade.”

The community is being invited to participate in the online survey and mapping activity via digital hub My Say Transport between Thursday 22 August and Friday 27 September 2019.

The survey seeks to better understand how the city’s current transport network is used and identify opportunities to better meet travel needs by requesting input on the current challenges faced while travelling around the CBD.

Stakeholder and community groups are invited to provide written submissions for consideration via the project webpage.

Media contact: media@transport.wa.gov.au