Boating project cost, design known soon
The final cost and design for Broome’s long-awaited boating facility project will be confirmed by June, Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls has said.
During a brief stop in Broome last week, Mr Grylls reaffirmed his commitment to the project and assured the town’s recreational boating and fishing community the plan would go ahead if he was re-elected in March.
Local fishing and boating groups have lobbied the State Government for better boating facilities for years. The Government allocated $30 million for the original project, but the budget was blown out last year when the minister announced an additional $35 million would be needed for the latest concept.
Despite ongoing environmental and heritage clearance delays, Mr Grylls said there had been a “degree of progress” made.
“We know we have to build a facility, it’s difficult, complex,” he said. “We have engaged some environmental consultants on environmental approvals for the site…
I think we’re well down the path of understanding a design that can suit both environmental and traditional owner heritage requirements.”
Mr Grylls would not speculate on the total amount of funding required for the latest concept, but was confident of delivering an outcome to meet all requirements.
Broome Boating Alliance chairwoman Karen Crosby said she was “cautiously optimistic” about the minister’s announcement.
“I feel this is the first time in an election where Broome’s boating community is on the politician’s radar,” she said.
