Grylls keen to push for tidal marina plan

Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls will approach Cabinet for approval to explore developing a tidal marina in Broome.

His announcement comes at a time when the town sweats on vital funding for a boating facility that will not be known until the State Budget is announced in August.

Mr Grylls was briefed on the tidal marina idea during a recent visit to town by a high-ranking delegation from the Shire of Broome, including president Graeme Campbell, chief executive Kenn Donohoe and director of development services Andre Schonfeldt.

“I have given an in-principle agreement to Graeme (Campbell) that we will look to find some support into the future for some more detailed planning to be done, probably by LandCorp,” Mr Grylls said.

The deputation gave Mr Grylls a guided tour of the mangrove area between Roebuck Bay and Dampier Terrace behind businesses in Chinatown — thought to be a potential location.

Mr Grylls said Premier Colin Barnett and Tourism Minister Kim Hames have both been briefed on the concept, and he requested a look for himself.

“You don’t really get a feel for what’s behind the buildings because you don’t go there,” he said.

“That was interesting. It is a big ticket, long-term project but I think there is a bit of interest.”

“I think the next step would be to get some detailed planning done around it — I am obviously quite supportive of that.

“I think it’s worth doing some work on taking that concept into some idea of how it might work and what the problems and challenges might be and what the cost might be, otherwise you are just shadow boxing.”

Mr Grylls said LandCorp would be the ideal agency to explore the possibility because it was a department within his portfolio already conducting marina work in Port Hedland and Karratha.

“I think there is some worth in taking a look at more detailed planning that gives us an idea of what we are talking about,” he said.

“If I can get some interest, which I think there will be, we should be able to get under way with that (planning) sometime this year.”

Mr Grylls said he supported a concept similar to the Cullen Bay Marina in Darwin, which constantly holds up to 5.7 metres of water behind locks controlling incoming and outgoing tides.

“I think if everyone in WA was told what is in Darwin would be coming to Broome, there would be a lot of cheering,” he said.

Mr Grylls said he was aware of the planning perils that would need to be overcome for such a project to proceed.

“As we have found in Broome, there are many competing interests when it comes to developments and projects, so you wouldn’t put that in the easy basket,” he said.

“That being said, the concept was of interest to the premier and deputy premier.

“I have now seen it and my version of how we progress that would be to have someone that does that work take a good look at it.”