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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 361 asked in the Legislative Council on 15 May 2018 by Hon Jacqui Boydell

Parliament: 40 Session: 1


BROOME PORT — GANGWAY
      361. Hon JACQUI BOYDELL to the minister representing the Minister for Transport:
I refer to an article in the Broome Advertiser of 10 May entitled ''Gangway blow to ship visit''.
      (1) When was the minister first advised of the need for the Kimberley Ports Authority to acquire a gangway to allow passengers egress from ships?
      (2) Has the commonwealth funding of $375 000 allocated for acquisition of this gangway been expended?
(3) What conditions were placed on receipt of the commonwealth grant?
      (4) What steps has the minister taken to fix this issue immediately to prevent further cruise ships from avoiding Broome?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The following answer is provided on behalf of the Minister for Transport.
      (1)–(4) The Kimberley Ports Authority advised in July 2017 that it had funded a concept design for an all-tide gangway system, with an estimated cost of up to $750 000, to enable improved passenger disembarkation at the port of Broome, and that Tourism WA had approved a funding application of $375 000. Tourism WA was administering a commonwealth funding allocation.
      The state government also took the decision soon after to invest $7 million to improve accessibility at the port of Broome to provide 24/7 vessel access for large cruise ships through the channel optimisation project. The project consists of a capital dredge, a new marked entrance channel and general improvements to berth accessibility. KPA advises that the design and construct tender for the proposed gangway system did not identify a safe design solution for an all-tide gangway for all cruise vessels from its wharf.
      The construction component of the tender, which closes on 25 May 2018, will deliver an improved gangway system to meet the needs of almost all cruise vessels. The first payment is to be made in the 2017–18 financial year following execution of the grant agreement. The second payment is to be made in the 2017–18 financial year following receipt of a letter from KPA confirming an order has been placed for a gangway. KPA advises that over 50 cruise vessels visited Broome in each of the 2016 and 2017 years. Operators of two vessels have this year indicated that the gangway system will not meet their needs for all-tide access to a gangway.