Funds not available for harbour project
Transport Minister Dean Nalder has slammed the door on a cut-price rescue package offered as an alternative to the canned $42 million Broome boating facility once promised by the Barnett Government.
In a shock move, the State Government in December 2013 stripped the funding and cancelled the project as part of its asset review program.
The Broome boating facility working group, comprising the local council, port authority and fishing club, produced an alternative project worth about $13 million.
But Mr Nalder recently rejected the invitation to discuss the plans with the group when he wrote to Shire President Graeme Campbell, effectively terminating any chance of a watered down resurrection.
Mr Campbell said it was an extremely disappointing result after hundreds of hours were poured into producing a much cheaper compromise.
"The minister has denied us the opportunity to put forward an alternative solution to the matter," he said.
"Putting it bluntly he said there was no point in meeting to discuss the matter further because of the State's financial position."
The working group previously made presentations to Regional Development Minister Terry Redman, Opposition Leader Mark McGowan and various parties.
"We were seeking a meeting with the transport minister to find an interim alternative that may well have been achievable, but it was not to be," Mr Campbell said.
"It was disappointing that we have not been given a chance to put up what we considered to be a viable alternative until the boating facility could be put in place."
The interim plan included upgrading facilities at Entrance Point, including installing rubber matting to eliminate the chance of vehicle bogging, constructing a small jetty to accommodate tidal variations, building toilet blocks and extending the car park to create a bigger area for boat trailers.
Town Beach had been earmarked for revetment to protect existing boat launching facilities and help control erosion.
The third stage was for the development of car parking facilities at Gantheaume Point and improving the access point to the beach.
Mr Nalder said it was understandable people were disappointed with the decision to withdraw funding for the facility.
"While it has long been acknowledged that there is a need for improved boat launching facilities in Broome, difficult economic constraints, coupled with rapidly escalating project costs, meant the Government could not justify funding the Broome Boat Harbour at this time," he said.
