Hon Peter Collier questions the Minister for Transport regarding seagrass wrack accumulation at Port Geographe, impacting beach amenity promised to residents, and potential class action. The Minister responds that the Department has fulfilled its obligations under the management plan and is addressing the issue through a working group.

AnsweredQoN 1119Legislative Council
Asked
20 October 2020
Portfolio
Transport

QuestionView source ↗

SEAGRASS WRACK — PORT GEOGRAPHE
1119. Hon PETER COLLIER to
the minister representing the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the ongoing issue of deep seagrass wrack that
remains on the western beach at Port Geographe.
(1) What plans
does the Department of Transport have to immediately remove this deep seagrass
wrack from the beach and return amenity to the residents of Port Geographe?
(2) In the
original deed of development for Port Geographe, beach amenity was promised to
be available to residents, which has not occurred due to this ongoing issue.
Will the Department of Transport provide assurances and a plan to resolve these
problems into the future?
(3) Is the
minister aware that the residents are currently in the process of preparing a class
action against the department in relation to this issue?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question. The following answer has been provided by the Minister for Transport.
(1)–(3)
The Department of Transport operates under the Port Geographe environmental
monitoring and management plan and has fulfilled all coastal management
obligations under the plan. In addition, DOT undertook wrack pushing prior to
storm events this year to reduce the amount of wrack accumulated. DOT has an
obligation with the City of Busselton under the Port Geographe management deed,
not the original deed of development. However, such amenity issues are being
addressed by the Port Geographe technical working group.

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