❓ Ms. Beard questions the Minister for Environment about the Hamelin Pool stromatolites' closure, boardwalk remediation, UNESCO status, and potential temporary protection measures. The Minister acknowledges the issues and indicates a comprehensive replacement plan is preferred, with funding hopes.
AnsweredQoN 943Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HAMELIN POOL STROMATOLITES
943. Ms M. BEARD to the Minister for Environment:
Sorry, minister. Congratulations. I
am sorry that you are not the last.
I refer to previous questions about
the closure of the world-famous Hamelin Pool stromatolites and the urgent need for remediation of the boardwalk and associated
impacts on both the stromatolites and tourism in the Gascoyne region.
(1) Has the
minister received advice or direction from the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization about the impacts that the ongoing closure
will have on the site's UNESCO World Heritage status?
(2) Has a business case been
completed for the replacement of the boardwalk?
(3) Given the
significant importance of the site, will temporary remediation measures be
taken to protect the stromatolites and when will this occur?
943. Ms M. BEARD to the Minister for Environment:
Sorry, minister. Congratulations. I
am sorry that you are not the last.
I refer to previous questions about
the closure of the world-famous Hamelin Pool stromatolites and the urgent need for remediation of the boardwalk and associated
impacts on both the stromatolites and tourism in the Gascoyne region.
(1) Has the
minister received advice or direction from the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization about the impacts that the ongoing closure
will have on the site's UNESCO World Heritage status?
(2) Has a business case been
completed for the replacement of the boardwalk?
(3) Given the
significant importance of the site, will temporary remediation measures be
taken to protect the stromatolites and when will this occur?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the
question.
(1)–(3) As
the member knows, there were dual issues facing the infrastructure in that
particular part of the world. We had an ageing boardwalk that needed work and
then we had cyclone Seroja, which caused extensive damage to the structure. A
report was forwarded to us that suggested that we could embark on some remediation but the life span of that work would be
limited. Indeed, rather than fix up some part of it and come back later
on and make further improvements, it was more advisable to consider a whole
approach to the structure and to make a replacement rather than a repair as the
effort that we made there. As the member can imagine, we have a very good
Minister for Tourism these days whom I have made representations to about the
requirements to improve that facility. I am very hopeful that we will be able
to make an announcement soon about funding for the future of that facility.
question.
(1)–(3) As
the member knows, there were dual issues facing the infrastructure in that
particular part of the world. We had an ageing boardwalk that needed work and
then we had cyclone Seroja, which caused extensive damage to the structure. A
report was forwarded to us that suggested that we could embark on some remediation but the life span of that work would be
limited. Indeed, rather than fix up some part of it and come back later
on and make further improvements, it was more advisable to consider a whole
approach to the structure and to make a replacement rather than a repair as the
effort that we made there. As the member can imagine, we have a very good
Minister for Tourism these days whom I have made representations to about the
requirements to improve that facility. I am very hopeful that we will be able
to make an announcement soon about funding for the future of that facility.
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