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Major upgrades, replacements and planning for future works to improve recreational boating facilities throughout WA will go ahead with an increased allocation of $2.5 million in State Government funding.

Ten projects have been successful in securing funding in the latest round of the Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme (RBFS) managed by the Department of Transport (DoT).

To continue reading the media statement please visit the link below.

Funding ramps up for boat facilities in WA communities

Speed restrictions, increasing the size the water ski area at Gantheaume Bay and a plan to better accommodate local commercial operators are part of proposed changes to improve safety for people enjoying the coastline at Broome.

Department of Transport (DoT) Kimberley Operations Manager Daren Hutchins said people could now provide feedback on the proposals and suggest other improvements to the management of the coastline as part of the Broome Aquatic Use Review. 

He said the proposals were the result of initial consultation with key stakeholders, including the Kimberley Ports Authority, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and local commercial operators.

"The purpose of the review is to ensure the safe, equitable and sustainable use of the coastline as the area’s population grows and demand increases for a variety of aquatic activities,” Mr Hutchins said.

Proposed changes include:
• Increase the current 8 knot area within Gantheaume Bay to encompass Broome Port moorings to ensure skippers travel at a safe speed.
• Reduce southern boundary of the Closed Waters Motorised Vessels area by 255 metres to better accommodate commercial operations in Gantheaume Bay.
• Increase the size of the Water Ski area within Gantheaume Bay north of the new 8 knot area and south of the Closed Waters Motorised Vessels area (Cable Beach) to simplify the boundaries for users.
• Increase the 8 knot area within the Broome Port from Entrance Point to Town Beach covering all of the mooring locations to ensure skippers travel at a safe speed.
• Remove the historic Personal Water Craft (PWC) Freestyling Prohibited areas at Gantheaume and Roebuck Bay to enable greater recreational aquatic activities.
• Consider the future requirement of the Entrance Point leads for ongoing navigation.

Mr Hutchins said feedback from regular users of the coastline would be considered to ensure any changes reflected local community views.

For more information about the aquatic review, make a comment on the proposals or participate in a survey about the changes visit My Say Transport.  

Comment on the proposals is sought until the end of January 2020.

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

Work will commence as soon as possible to move seagrass wrack and restore part of the sandy shoreline of the Western Beach at Port Geographe ready for the holidays.

The Department of Transport (DoT) is undertaking the work and will engage contractors who will use earthmoving equipment to push the seagrass wrack to clear the shoreline.

DoT Director Coastal Facilities Donna West said the work is additional to the maintenance campaign already announced for the Western Beach, marina entrance and Wonnerup, to provide benefits for locals and visitors this summer.

“To maintain safe navigation and ensure the water quality within the marina, dredging of the Port Geographe entrance channel is generally required during spring and early summer. This is to clear the entrance to safe depths for vessels and allows the marina to flush with clean water from Geographe Bay with the tides,” Ms West said.

“It’s anticipated the marina dredging will be completed in the next few weeks prior to the busy summer holiday period.”

Ms West said a special meeting to discuss the coastal management at Port Geographe, convened by the City at the request of DoT, was planned for Thursday December 5, 2019 and would involve community and stakeholder representatives.

“DoT working in partnership with the City, prior to and throughout the reconfiguration project has worked closely with the local community and remains committed to delivering the best outcome for the reconfiguration of the coastline at Port Geographe,” Ms West said. 

Port Geographe’s marina entrance and adjacent beaches are managed under the publicly available Port Geographe Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan. This outlines the management methods which can be employed to manage wrack and sand around the marina.

For a copy of the plan or more information visit Port Geographe reconfiguration.

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