Conditional OK for marina
The biggest transformation of Rockingham’s coastline is one step closer after the Environmental Protection Authority recommended conditional approval for the Mangles Bay Marina.
On Monday, EPA chairman Paul Vogel released a 138-page report that recommended the proposal by Cedar Woods and LandCorp be given the green light by Environment Minister Albert Jacob.
The development comes after Rockingham City Council gave inprinciple support to the proposal last June.
The EPA’s approval came with 11 strict conditions for the 500-pen marina and the creation of a tourism precinct at the southern end of Cockburn Sound.
Dr Vogel said the conditions included a Marine Environmental Quality Management Plan to monitor and evaluate the quality of the water and sediment in marine waters.
“The EPA has recommended the proponent replant twice the area of seagrass lost by the proposal within six years of construction, with 75 per cent cover to be achieved 10 years after the commencement of construction,” he said.
“The proponent will also be required to rehabilitate 20 hectares of native vegetation within the Rockingham Lakes Regional Park.”
Rockingham Kwinana Chamber of Commerce president Danny Stent said it was fantastic news for the city.
“Cockburn Sound is one of the best recreational waters anywhere in the metropolitan area and attracts lots of visitors but, without adequate boating facilities, our community has been missing out on the economic benefit that could be had from fully engaging with the boating community,” he said.
Hands off Point Peron chairwoman Dawn Jecks said the group, which opposes the development, would ramp up its campaign to stop what she described as an “outrageous land grab”.
Ms Jecks anticipated the group would submit new data to the minister during the two-week appeal period, which closes on May 13, including the risk of short and long-term methyl-mercury biomagnification from dredging and anoxic canal development.
She also rejected Dr Vogel’s comments that the Public Environmental Review assessment of the proposal was “rigorous” and claimed the recommended environmental conditions were unrealistic.
Cedar Woods WA state manager Stuart Duplock said he was looking forward to the project progressing to the Federal environmental approval stage, which has to sign off on the proposal for it to proceed.
To view the EPA’s report, visit www.epa.wa.gov.au.
