❓ Question regarding the progress, cost, and environmental impact of sand and seagrass bypassing at Port Geographe, and the status of negotiations for a long-term solution to coastal issues caused by the Port Geographe project.
AnsweredQoN 900Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PORT GEOGRAPHE — BYPASSING OF SAND AND
SEAGRASS
900. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the minister representing the
Minister for Transport:
(1) Has the annual bypassing of sand and seagrass at Port
Geographe been completed?
(2) If yes to (1), how much did it cost?
(3) If it has not been completed, when will it be completed
and how much will it cost?
(4) What has
been, or is likely to be, the effect of this movement on the beach at Port
Geographe, the beach at Wonnerup and the areas adjacent to those beaches on
both sides?
(5) What is
the status of the complex negotiations with the administrator and financiers of
the Port Geographe project, with the aim of achieving a long-term solution to
the coastal amendment issues and, in particular, what are the relevant coastal
management issues and what long-term solutions to those issues are being
considered?
SEAGRASS
900. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the minister representing the
Minister for Transport:
(1) Has the annual bypassing of sand and seagrass at Port
Geographe been completed?
(2) If yes to (1), how much did it cost?
(3) If it has not been completed, when will it be completed
and how much will it cost?
(4) What has
been, or is likely to be, the effect of this movement on the beach at Port
Geographe, the beach at Wonnerup and the areas adjacent to those beaches on
both sides?
(5) What is
the status of the complex negotiations with the administrator and financiers of
the Port Geographe project, with the aim of achieving a long-term solution to
the coastal amendment issues and, in particular, what are the relevant coastal
management issues and what long-term solutions to those issues are being
considered?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of her 10-part
question. The minister and the Department of Transport advise —
(1) No. The
works have been impacted by storm events, including on 3, 4 and 5 November,
which has brought more seagrass to shore.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) It is
anticipated that the works will be completed between 10 and 17 November 2012
and cost approximately $1.5 million.
(4) Approximately
100 000 cubic metres of trapped seagrass has been removed. This has
progressively restored amenity to the beach. Wonnerup beach requires sand for
nourishment, and this has been undertaken as part of the bypass works. Seagrass
has also been placed there where it is freely able to return to the ocean
environment, which is required by existing environmental approvals. There is
negligible impact to the beaches adjacent to the work area west of Port
Geographe. The beaches adjacent to the worksite east of Point Geographe
experience a short-term increase in mobile seagrass and discoloured water as
the bypass material disperses through natural processes.
(5) The
existing coastal structures at Port Geographe are causing massive local
accumulation of seagrass and coastal erosion. These impacts require expensive
and disruptive annual maintenance programs. Until 2009, these were performed by
the developer. The developer has moved into administration and liquidation
processes have commenced. The government is currently considering the
University of Western Australia's study on the seagrass and erosion
problems, which has proposed a structural reconfiguration for Port Geographe
that would address the existing problems.
question. The minister and the Department of Transport advise —
(1) No. The
works have been impacted by storm events, including on 3, 4 and 5 November,
which has brought more seagrass to shore.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) It is
anticipated that the works will be completed between 10 and 17 November 2012
and cost approximately $1.5 million.
(4) Approximately
100 000 cubic metres of trapped seagrass has been removed. This has
progressively restored amenity to the beach. Wonnerup beach requires sand for
nourishment, and this has been undertaken as part of the bypass works. Seagrass
has also been placed there where it is freely able to return to the ocean
environment, which is required by existing environmental approvals. There is
negligible impact to the beaches adjacent to the work area west of Port
Geographe. The beaches adjacent to the worksite east of Point Geographe
experience a short-term increase in mobile seagrass and discoloured water as
the bypass material disperses through natural processes.
(5) The
existing coastal structures at Port Geographe are causing massive local
accumulation of seagrass and coastal erosion. These impacts require expensive
and disruptive annual maintenance programs. Until 2009, these were performed by
the developer. The developer has moved into administration and liquidation
processes have commenced. The government is currently considering the
University of Western Australia's study on the seagrass and erosion
problems, which has proposed a structural reconfiguration for Port Geographe
that would address the existing problems.
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