Shade plans chosen, opinions sought

This is the design selected for long-awaited shade structures in Chinatown that will cost almost $50,000 each.

Modelled on Shinjuri Matsuri Festival mascot Sammy the Dragon, two of them will stand on Dampier Terrace at Streeter’s Jetty and outside the Roebuck Bay Hotel, while the remaining pair will be constructed on Carnarvon Street.

They feature a jagged sawtooth roof line covered by battens and three U-shaped legs supporting the structure, which has no protection from the sun on all four sides.

The project has taken seven months to reach this stage since Premier Colin Barnett committed $210,000 to the scheme as part of a pre-election visit to the town in January.

An artist commission fee of $25,000 will be paid, leaving $185,000 for construction and installation.

The Shire of Broome initially asked for expressions of interest and three submissions out of five made the shortlist.

The Chinatown Action Group supported the Sammy the Dragon concept in July and councillors agreed at their full meeting this month.

The cyclone-proof shade structure will now be advertised and public comment sought over a 21- day period to enable “fine-tuning” of the design if necessary.

Broome Shire president Graeme Campbell said the council believed the shade structures were suitable for Chinatown but not necessarily to jetty-to-jetty proposals from the shopping hub to Town Beach.

“We are seeking feedback from the community and unless significant objections are received, tenders will be sought for construction of these structures within budget limitations set by council at the agreed locations,” Mr Campbell said.

“Following the advertising, there will be a 21-day comment period.”

Mr Campbell said it was now up to the public to have a say.

“We have made a decision and now the public has an opportunity to tell us why we should not build them,” he said.

“For example, they are not totally rain and sun proof and where are the interpretive panels? All of that needs fine-tuning and we will work around that.”

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