❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses sand erosion caused by the Geraldton Port expansion, questioning the Port Authority's responsibility, the City Council's burden in finding a solution, and the imposed deadlines. The Minister clarifies responsibilities, contributions, and available expertise.
AnsweredQoN 29Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
GERALDTON PORT EXPANSION PROJECT
I refer to an article in The Geraldton Guardian of 21 March headed “Sands of time will tell”, which talks about the ongoing loss of sand as a result of the Geraldton port expansion project and states - The council has called on the community to indicate which of three options it prefers to sustain the work - a groyne, an offshore breakwater or continual sand renourishment. The article refers also to the time pressure on the Geraldton City Council and states - Some urgency has been attached to the decision, because the Department of Infrastructure has $100,000 to put toward a coastal structure - but only before June 30. (1) Why is the Geraldton Port Authority not taking ongoing responsibility for the constant erosion of sand - 20 per cent has already been washed away - as a result of the port expansion? (2) Why has the job of finding a solution to the problem been imposed upon the Geraldton City Council? (3) Why have such tight deadlines and impossible choices, especially in the absence of technical expertise, been imposed on the Geraldton City Council and the Geraldton community at large? Hon KEN TRAVERS
I refer to an article in The Geraldton Guardian of 21 March headed “Sands of time will tell”, which talks about the ongoing loss of sand as a result of the Geraldton port expansion project and states - The council has called on the community to indicate which of three options it prefers to sustain the work - a groyne, an offshore breakwater or continual sand renourishment. The article refers also to the time pressure on the Geraldton City Council and states - Some urgency has been attached to the decision, because the Department of Infrastructure has $100,000 to put toward a coastal structure - but only before June 30. (1) Why is the Geraldton Port Authority not taking ongoing responsibility for the constant erosion of sand - 20 per cent has already been washed away - as a result of the port expansion? (2) Why has the job of finding a solution to the problem been imposed upon the Geraldton City Council? (3) Why have such tight deadlines and impossible choices, especially in the absence of technical expertise, been imposed on the Geraldton City Council and the Geraldton community at large? Hon KEN TRAVERS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The coastal area involved is outside the Geraldton port boundary and is therefore the responsibility of the Geraldton City Council. However, the port authority has been contributing to the sand nourishment of the area on an annual basis in accordance with a condition of the environmental approval for the port enhancement project. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has been contributing technical expertise and funding towards the final solution to the problem. (3) The City of Geraldton has had several technical reports provided by expert consultants within the past year on which to make its decision. The department has offered to meet a third of the cost along with the city and the port authority from funding available in the 2004-05 budget year.
(2) Why has the job of finding a solution to the problem been imposed upon the Geraldton City Council? (3) Why have such tight deadlines and impossible choices, especially in the absence of technical expertise, been imposed on the Geraldton City Council and the Geraldton community at large? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The coastal area involved is outside the Geraldton port boundary and is therefore the responsibility of the Geraldton City Council. However, the port authority has been contributing to the sand nourishment of the area on an annual basis in accordance with a condition of the environmental approval for the port enhancement project. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has been contributing technical expertise and funding towards the final solution to the problem. (3) The City of Geraldton has had several technical reports provided by expert consultants within the past year on which to make its decision. The department has offered to meet a third of the cost along with the city and the port authority from funding available in the 2004-05 budget year.
(3) Why have such tight deadlines and impossible choices, especially in the absence of technical expertise, been imposed on the Geraldton City Council and the Geraldton community at large? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The coastal area involved is outside the Geraldton port boundary and is therefore the responsibility of the Geraldton City Council. However, the port authority has been contributing to the sand nourishment of the area on an annual basis in accordance with a condition of the environmental approval for the port enhancement project. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has been contributing technical expertise and funding towards the final solution to the problem. (3) The City of Geraldton has had several technical reports provided by expert consultants within the past year on which to make its decision. The department has offered to meet a third of the cost along with the city and the port authority from funding available in the 2004-05 budget year.
Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The coastal area involved is outside the Geraldton port boundary and is therefore the responsibility of the Geraldton City Council. However, the port authority has been contributing to the sand nourishment of the area on an annual basis in accordance with a condition of the environmental approval for the port enhancement project. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has been contributing technical expertise and funding towards the final solution to the problem. (3) The City of Geraldton has had several technical reports provided by expert consultants within the past year on which to make its decision. The department has offered to meet a third of the cost along with the city and the port authority from funding available in the 2004-05 budget year.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The coastal area involved is outside the Geraldton port boundary and is therefore the responsibility of the Geraldton City Council. However, the port authority has been contributing to the sand nourishment of the area on an annual basis in accordance with a condition of the environmental approval for the port enhancement project. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has been contributing technical expertise and funding towards the final solution to the problem. (3) The City of Geraldton has had several technical reports provided by expert consultants within the past year on which to make its decision. The department has offered to meet a third of the cost along with the city and the port authority from funding available in the 2004-05 budget year.
(1)-(2) The coastal area involved is outside the Geraldton port boundary and is therefore the responsibility of the Geraldton City Council. However, the port authority has been contributing to the sand nourishment of the area on an annual basis in accordance with a condition of the environmental approval for the port enhancement project. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has been contributing technical expertise and funding towards the final solution to the problem. (3) The City of Geraldton has had several technical reports provided by expert consultants within the past year on which to make its decision. The department has offered to meet a third of the cost along with the city and the port authority from funding available in the 2004-05 budget year.
(3) The City of Geraldton has had several technical reports provided by expert consultants within the past year on which to make its decision. The department has offered to meet a third of the cost along with the city and the port authority from funding available in the 2004-05 budget year.
(2) Why has the job of finding a solution to the problem been imposed upon the Geraldton City Council? (3) Why have such tight deadlines and impossible choices, especially in the absence of technical expertise, been imposed on the Geraldton City Council and the Geraldton community at large? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The coastal area involved is outside the Geraldton port boundary and is therefore the responsibility of the Geraldton City Council. However, the port authority has been contributing to the sand nourishment of the area on an annual basis in accordance with a condition of the environmental approval for the port enhancement project. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has been contributing technical expertise and funding towards the final solution to the problem. (3) The City of Geraldton has had several technical reports provided by expert consultants within the past year on which to make its decision. The department has offered to meet a third of the cost along with the city and the port authority from funding available in the 2004-05 budget year.
(3) Why have such tight deadlines and impossible choices, especially in the absence of technical expertise, been imposed on the Geraldton City Council and the Geraldton community at large? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The coastal area involved is outside the Geraldton port boundary and is therefore the responsibility of the Geraldton City Council. However, the port authority has been contributing to the sand nourishment of the area on an annual basis in accordance with a condition of the environmental approval for the port enhancement project. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has been contributing technical expertise and funding towards the final solution to the problem. (3) The City of Geraldton has had several technical reports provided by expert consultants within the past year on which to make its decision. The department has offered to meet a third of the cost along with the city and the port authority from funding available in the 2004-05 budget year.
Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The coastal area involved is outside the Geraldton port boundary and is therefore the responsibility of the Geraldton City Council. However, the port authority has been contributing to the sand nourishment of the area on an annual basis in accordance with a condition of the environmental approval for the port enhancement project. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has been contributing technical expertise and funding towards the final solution to the problem. (3) The City of Geraldton has had several technical reports provided by expert consultants within the past year on which to make its decision. The department has offered to meet a third of the cost along with the city and the port authority from funding available in the 2004-05 budget year.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The coastal area involved is outside the Geraldton port boundary and is therefore the responsibility of the Geraldton City Council. However, the port authority has been contributing to the sand nourishment of the area on an annual basis in accordance with a condition of the environmental approval for the port enhancement project. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has been contributing technical expertise and funding towards the final solution to the problem. (3) The City of Geraldton has had several technical reports provided by expert consultants within the past year on which to make its decision. The department has offered to meet a third of the cost along with the city and the port authority from funding available in the 2004-05 budget year.
(1)-(2) The coastal area involved is outside the Geraldton port boundary and is therefore the responsibility of the Geraldton City Council. However, the port authority has been contributing to the sand nourishment of the area on an annual basis in accordance with a condition of the environmental approval for the port enhancement project. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has been contributing technical expertise and funding towards the final solution to the problem. (3) The City of Geraldton has had several technical reports provided by expert consultants within the past year on which to make its decision. The department has offered to meet a third of the cost along with the city and the port authority from funding available in the 2004-05 budget year.
(3) The City of Geraldton has had several technical reports provided by expert consultants within the past year on which to make its decision. The department has offered to meet a third of the cost along with the city and the port authority from funding available in the 2004-05 budget year.
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