Tag: roger cook

Serious Cockburn Sound environmental concerns persist following Westport Business Case summmary release

Recfishwest continues to have serious concerns about the future of Cockburn Sound following the Government’s release of its Westport Business Case summary earlier this week for the development of a $7.2 billion container port in Kwinana.

The proposed port would require a massive dredging operation and see cargo vessels more than twice the length of Optus Stadium oval pushing past families fishing from small boats. 

The Westport dredging operation – what we know so far

  • To service the new port, a 18.5m deep shipping channel from Cottesloe to Cockburn Sound will require up to 35 million m³ of seafloor to be dredged – making it among the biggest dredging operations ever to be undertaken in Australia.
  • The new channel will be required to accomodate “Post-Panamax” size vessels measuring 366m long, 51.2m wide and 15.6m deep.
  • Dredging increases turbidity, reduces light penetration and is known to damage the marine environment. Much of the proposed dredging will occur around recovering seagrass meadows in Parmelia and Success Banks. These meadows provide critical habitat for species like snapper, crabs, whiting, herring and squid.  
  • Westport’s revised EPA referral document acknowledges “The proposal is likely to have significant effects on the environment,” bringing into question promises made by Westport that the new port will “deliver positive long-term benefits for the natural and physical environment.”  
As seen in this map on Westport’s website, there is a huge amount of dredging planned to make way for the port and shipping channel from Cottesloe to Cockburn Sound, making it among the biggest dredging operations in Australian history with serious potential impacts on the environment and fishing.

Click here to listen to Operations Manger Leyland Campbell’s recent ABC radio interview where he discusses Westport’s potential impacts on the environment and fishing.

Premier Roger Cook recently announced a $273 million investment to progress detailed planning for the development of a new container port in Cockburn Sound following completion of a business case for the Westport project.  

However, no indication was given as to how much – if any – of that investment would be spent on better understanding or addressing the project’s environmental impacts.  

What Recfishwest has to say on the issue

Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland said, “The business case has not been released and the summary of the business case that has been made public fails to address the impacts on the Cockburn Sound environment from dredging 35 million m³ of sand, installing a 2km long breakwater and constructing an international shipping container port. 

“For seven years since Westport was first tabled, we’ve been asking the same questions and all we’ve heard is lip service being paid to the environment and our fishing experiences. 

“Westport project managers claim this will be an environmentally friendly port that will leave the environment in a better place. We have seen no evidence this will be the case and so many questions around the environment remain unanswered.”  

Recfishwest has recently joined the Save Cockburn Sound Alliance – a coalition of groups who have a strong connection with the Cockburn Sound and are deeply concerned about its future.  

We encourage anyone who cares about the Sound to join – check out Save Cockburn Sound’s website for more information. 

The key questions on Westport that continue to remain unanswered

  • What impact will dredging 35 million m³ of sand have on Cockburn Sound’s seagrass meadows, surrounding environment and fish stocks?
  • How will the proposed shipping channel, a 2km-long breakwater and a new port affect the environment of Cockburn Sound?
  • What plans do Westport have to minimise and mitigate the environmental and social impacts of the proposed port?
  • What other developments will the new shipping channel facilitate and what is the cumulative impact of this continued industrialisation of Cockburn sound?

Premier’s announcement of $107 million for next stage of Ocean Reef marina development met with serious questions from metro fishers

Over the weekend, WA Premier Roger Cook announced that the Government has signed a $107 million works contract to start the next stage of major works for the Ocean Reef marina development.  

The Premier said, “Ocean Reef marina is one of the most significant development projects in our State.”  

However, despite its significance to West Aussie fishers, the Government is yet to offset the loss of the 12.5 hectares of productive reef habitat which resulted in more than one million abalone being killed to make way for the marina.  

As a result of this failure, DPIRD was once again forced to restrict this summer’s metro recreational abalone season by one day for the fifth year in a row.    

Hear from Leyland Campbell discussing the impacts of Ocean Reef marina on recreational fishers in the video below:

 

A failure by Government to deliver on what was promised to us

There is also still no word on the fishing jetty that was promised as part of the marina’s plans, which would allow fishers of all abilities – including those requiring wheelchair access – to enjoy wetting a line.  

Recfishwest Operations Manager Leyland Campbell said, “Recfishwest has always supported the Government’s vision for the marina due to the broader community benefits a marina can provide. This support is largely because we have repeatedly been assured the development would be undertaken in accordance with world’s best practice.   

“However, not taking responsibility to remedy the environmental damage done by its actions is a long way from best practice. And, if the Government can’t be trusted to mitigate the environmental impacts of a residential marina, then what confidence can the community have in the Government developing an international container port and a large new shipping channel in an environment as sensitive as Cockburn Sound?”  

The abalone season this summer has been shortened for the fifth year in a row due to the Government failing to mitigate or offset the damage done to metro abalone stocks due to the Ocean Marina development.

 

Stocking boost driven by fishers 

Even though the Government is yet to take responsibility for the impact of their development, that hasn’t stopped fishers from investing in the future of this important fishery, Leyland pointed out.  

“The Fisheries Minister recently announced that DPIRD would restock abalone in the metro area over the next three years thanks to an investment of recreational licence fees through the Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund,” said Leyland. 

“Recfishwest first called for metro abalone restocking using recreational licence fees back in 2017, so it is great to see this becoming a reality.  

“While abalone stocking is welcomed – it does not make up for the huge hole left in abalone habitat and stock by the destruction of the Ocean Reef abalone reef.”   

He added, “It is time the Government takes responsibility and finally invests in properly mitigating and offsetting the impacts of the marina.” 

Recfishwest will continue to push the Government to take responsibility for their actions so abalone stocks can grow and fishers can regain the fifth day of abalone fishing they have been robbed of for the last five years.