Annual Report 2008-2009 - Department of Transport

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New boat pens at Exmouth and Geraldton
Following the success of the prepayment model for the construction of pens
at Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour and increasing demand, the Department
of Treasury and Finance approved expenditure of $2.4 million in 2009–10 and
$2.306 million in 2010–11, based on a similar model to provide additional
pens at the Exmouth Boat Harbour and Geraldton Batavia Coast Marina.
An expression of interest (EOI) process will be conducted to determine if
there is the financial commitment to develop approximately 45 additional
boat pens at the Exmouth Boat Harbour and 50 new boat pens at the Batavia
Coast Marina, with additional space for further construction to be included
in the project should there be sufficient demand.
There are currently waiting lists for pens at both locations and the EOI
process is expected to commence by July 2009.
*This activity also relates to Goal 4.
www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine
National standards for commercial vessels
In October 2008, the Department amended numerous regulations applying
to commercial vessels, in order to adopt the updated Uniform Shipping Laws
Code (USL Code). The updated USL Code picked up parts of the National
Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) endorsed by the Australian
Transport Council (ATC). Additional amendments to WA legislation will be
made by October 2009 to adopt further changes to the USL Code agreed to
by the ATC in November 2008.
The amendments to the legislation will ensure the marine industry in WA is
subject to nationally consistent, modern, flexible standards for construction,
fit-out and operation. This will lessen the complexity posed by differing
regulatory requirements and reduce or eliminate the incidence of additional
compliance costs to industry for vessels that conduct business in more than
one jurisdiction.
*This activity also relates to Goal 5.
www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine
Coastal management and protection
With nearly 90 per cent of the State’s population living on the coastal
fringe, the Department plays a key role in protecting our lifestyle and the
environment through providing assistance to local coastal managers (e.g.
local governments) in the coastal management and protection of land and
property from erosion by the ocean.
In 2008–09, maintenance dredging was successfully undertaken to maintain
Mandurah Channel, Dawesville Channel, Exmouth Boat Harbour, Kalbarri
River, Bandy Creek Boat Harbour (Esperance), Lancelin Jetty and Ocean
Reef Boat Harbour at a total cost of $2.5 million.
Grants totalling $910,000 and advice were provided to:
• Shire of Busselton (Town Beach groyne and seawall maintenance);
• Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) (Coral Bay – Nine
Mile Beach – sand nourishment);
• DEC (Penguin Island – sand nourishment);
• City of Mandurah (Falcon Beach – sand nourishment);
• Shire of Esperance (Norseman Road – sand nourishment);
• Esperance Port Authority (Town Beach – sand nourishment);
• Esperance Foreshore Erosion Steering Committee (Town Beach
rejuvenation);
• Shire of Irwin (Port Denison – Granny’s Beach – sand nourishment);
• City of Wanneroo (Quinns Beach – groyne maintenance); and
• Town of Cambridge (Floreat Beach – groyne maintenance).
In addition, climate change initiatives were completed to investigate
sediment compartments in partnership with DEC, i.e:
• coastal protection structures inventory (Busselton and Perth);
• a new wave buoy at Jurien;
• collection of aerial photography; and
• a review of the sea level rise in Western Australia.
*This activity also relates to Goal 3 and 4.
www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine