New facilities for Coral Bay's recreational boat users

7/04/05
The Western Australian Government will go ahead with the construction of a recreational boat ramp following the receipt of a report by an independent expert.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan made the announcement of the urgently needed facilities today in Parliament.
"It will alleviate the pressures associated with the numbers of small trailer boats being launched from the beach in southern Bills Bay, and reduce the risk of conflict between boat users and swimmers, snorkellers and divers crossing the current boating track to access nearby coral communities," Ms MacTiernan said.
The Minister commissioned an independent review into Coral Bay's boat facilities three months ago, in response to concerns about the Monck Head site approved by the Environmental Protection Authority.
"The Coral Bay Progress Association (CBPA) and Shire of Carnarvon argued that North Bills Bay and Batemans Bay (Maud's Landing) were better locations - especially for the large commercial and tour boats which the members of the CBPA operate," Ms MacTiernan said.
The Minister appointed Emeritus Professor Alistair J Gilmour to investigate whether an alternate facility could be located somewhere in North Bills Bay.
The outcomes of Professor Gilmour's final report are:

• it is not possible to construct an environmentally acceptable boating facility at North Bills Bay;

• there should be a reassessment of the provision of boating facilities for Coral Bay, following a study of the nature and pattern of boat usage in the Coral Bay area; and

• if there are imperatives for proceeding with the Monck Head facility before the results of a boat usage study, the facility should be limited to a launching ramp for recreational boats less than six metres.

"The Coral Bay Progress Association representatives gave me a verbal agreement that they would accept the Monck Head site if the independent review found that the North Bills Bay site was unable to support any redesigned boating facility," Ms MacTiernan said.
The Minister said the debate over boating facilities in Coral Bay had raged unresolved for more than a decade.
"We cannot accept existing arrangements for boating within Coral Bay for another three or four years while we search for another location," she said.
"We are proceeding with the boat launching facilities and will continue the discussions with the shire and CBPA about the desirability of adding the service jetty in the near future.
"In my view it would be the best interest of all the Coral Bay Community that we proceed with the service jetty, so the dozen commercial boats currently refueling and loading passengers on the main swimming beach can do so more safely.
"Our determination to get proper planning infrastructure, such as sewerage and water, into Coral Bay is delivering real benefits and world class projects.
"The Gallop Government is ensuring regional WA receives its fair share."
Minister's office: 9213 6400