Question On Notice No. 3297 asked in the Legislative Council on 8 October 2020 by Hon Robin Chapple
Question Directed to the: Minister for Environment representing the Minister for Transport; Planning
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Question
I refer to the Department of Transport (DoT) work on the proposed Broome Boating Facility at Entrance Point, and I ask:
(a) why is the Shire of Broome conducting the consultation and not the DoT;
(b) does the Shire of Broome have any jurisdiction on this land:
(i) if no to (b), why not; and
(ii) if yes to (b), what does it entail;
(c) what zoning is the area under;
(d) what powers and responsibilities does the Shire of Broome have on that land;
(e) is the Minister aware of any data relating to the rate of injuries from boat launching and retrieval in Broome:
(i) if yes to (e), will the Minister table the data:
(A) if no to (e)(i), why not;
(f) how many boat launching areas are there in and around Broome;
(g) how many boats are currently registered in Broome;
(h) have any surveys been conducted on the current use of the proposed area for new boating facilities at Entrance Point such as recreation:
(i) if no to (h), how does the Department know the views of the people using that area and any concerns they may have due to the loss of amenity if a car park and boat launching facility is built on the beach;
(i) does the Minister believe it to be important that the views of the people who use the Entrance Point beach for recreation, other than boat launching, are important:
(i) if no to (i), why not;
(j) did the online survey conducted by the Shire of Broome have any restrictions on the number of times a respondent could take part in it;
(k) could a person respond multiple times to the online survey conducted by the Shire of Broome;
(l) how many responses were in support of the boat launching facilities in the survey conducted by the Shire of Broome;
(m) is the Minister aware of the petition to the Legislative Council objecting to the boat launching facilities and car park proposed by the Shire of Broome that would cover the beach at Entrance Point;
(n) how many people signed the petition in opposition to the enhanced boat launching facilities and car park on the beach;
(o) is the Minister aware that there is no other beach, in or near Broome, that has the same landscape features as the one that would be destroyed by the proposed car park and enhanced launching facilities;
(p) what is the Aboriginal name for this place;
(q) is the Minister aware that the area in question is covered by a Registered Aboriginal Heritage site; and
(r) if required, would the Government apply for a section 18 under the Western Australian Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 to destroy the site in order to build a boating facility?
Answered on 10 November 2020
a. The project is being led through a long-standing advisory group that is chaired by the Shire, to which the Department of Transport (DoT) provides technical expertise and supports the Shire with project consultation.
b. The Shire has certain town planning responsibilities across the local government area that encompasses the project site.
c. This question should be referred to the Shire of Broome.
d. This question should be referred to the Shire of Broome.
e. No
i. Not applicable
f. There are several formal and informal areas that are commonly used for boat launching. The formal sites comprise four exposed concrete slabs, two of which are at the site of the proposed improvement at Entrance Point.
g. As at October 2020, there are 2,915 registered boats in Broome.
h. Yes
i. Not applicable
i. Yes
i. Not applicable
j. No
k. Yes, however a review of responses indicated very few instances of this occurring.
l. Approximately 906, or 74 per cent of responses
m. Yes
n. The member should consult tabled petition No 157 which was tabled on 11 August 2020.
o. All beaches are unique, the proposal has been refined to reduce the size, scale and potential impacts and to provide a range of amenities that do not currently exist in this location for the broader community.
p. Several Aboriginal names are noted in this area. The project provides an exceptional opportunity to better promote the awareness of Aboriginal culture and heritage of Broome.
q. Yes, an extensive non-specific registered heritage polygon (1273 Entrance Point/Yinara) is recorded in this area. Follow up heritage fieldwork with indigenous representatives, expert consultants and cultural heritage mapping and workshops have guided the current design around specific sites of concern. The design footprint is a re-interpreted (and scaled down) version of a recommended boating facility design prepared by the Yawuru community.
r. The Government would seek a Section 18 clearance to progress the project with minimal disturbance. A memorandum of understanding established with the NBY Yawuru in 2019 provides support for this possibility.