rockingham mariner

Cape Peron Marina
A marina based tourist development at Mangles Bay has been a long held vision of the Rockingham community. The City of Rockingham secured funding from the State and Commonwealth Government to undertake a study to develop concepts for such a development.

The study was overseen by a Project Steering Committee chaired by the Mayor Barry Sammels, with representatives from key stakeholders, together with State Government membership from LandCorp and the Departments for Planning and Infrastructure (DPI) and Environment and Conservation (DEC).

Since the 1970's, a number of proposals have been developed for a marina based tourist and residential developments immediately to the east of the Garden Island causeway. These concepts have included both sea-based marinas (i.e. built out into Mangles Bay) and land-based marinas (i.e. built into the land).

The study area is bounded by the Garden Island causeway to the west, Hymus Street to the east and the proposed Garden Island Highway to the south. Funding for the study has been provided by the State and Federal Governments, as well as the Council.

The objective of the study is prepare a concept plan for the project area that provides an optimum balance of social, economic and environmental outcomes. The vision is to develop a new concept plan for Cape Peron which will create a world class, marina based tourist precinct for the Rockingham community and surrounding area, but with much improved environmental outcomes than previous proposals.

The project will provide much needed boating and recreational facilities, tourist infrastructure (particularly for the strong existing local marine eco-tourism industry) and significant employment and investment opportunities in a region of particular need. The concepts were developed to meet sustainability goals and have strong social and economic outcomes and sound environmental and financial outcomes.

Two concepts have the support of the Project Steering Committee. These are Option 2.3 and Option 2.4. Both options are very similar with Option 2.3 having marginally inferior environmental outcomes to Option 2.4.

The concepts have been developed with extensive community input. This has included two community forums, a 40-member Stakeholder Reference Group (which was instrumental in developing the concept options), numerous public displays with over 800 submissions and a formal public comment period as part of the EPA’s Sec 16e advice process, which resulted in over 450 submissions.

A comprehensive telephone poll of 500 Rockingham residents showed sound community support for the project with 51% support, 29% undecided and 20% opposition.

A desk top economic analysis, using similar previous studies undertaken by the Curtin Business School, has indicated a total economic impact of this project of at least $785M (in NPV terms) generating a peak employment of over 1500 jobs during construction and 620 new permanent full time jobs once opened.

The concepts have been considered by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) which has provided advice on the potential environmental acceptability of the concepts. The EPA has advised the project has the potential to be environmentally acceptable if several key concerns can be satisfactorily addressed. The Project Steering Committee is confident environmental approval can be achieved and the necessary environmental investigations and modelling are proposed to be undertaken during this next phase (Phase 2).

The Project Steering Committee sought Cabinet approval to proceed to the next phase of the project - Phase 2. Phase 2 will entail development of the preferred concepts to a near final proposal of sufficient detail for environmental assessment. This phase will also include a full environmental assessment by the EPA and the commencement of a Metropolitan Region Scheme amendment.

At the conclusion of Phase 2, and assuming environmental approval is given, the final proposal will be taken back to Cabinet for approval to proceed with construction.

In July 2006, the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure advised the City of Rockingham that any further Government action on the Cape Peron project would be deferred until the feasibility of a private funding Wanliss Street marina concept was resolved.

The Minister considered that whilst there may in the future be a place for both proposals, given the finite Government resources, it would be 'wise' to work on the Wanliss Street proposal first.

Further information on the Cape Peron project may be obtained from viewing the Cape Peron link at www.rdo.wa.gov.au


Waterfront Village
In recent years, the City has spent considerable time and resources in bringing about change to the historical Rockingham Beach area. These initiatives were necessary as the area had lost some direction and the Council believed that it needed to refocus and build upon its outstanding attributes. The work undertaken has now reached a stage where many of the public areas have been upgraded which has contributed to the healthy private sector investment that is currently being experienced.

The partnership formed between the City and LandCorp, in progressing the implementation of the Waterfront Village Project, is critical to the ongoing revitalisation of the area. The City is confident that the project will provide an outstanding entry to the Rockingham Beach area and deliver housing choice and community facilities, the likes of which have not been offered in the region previously.

The streetscape works to Flinders Lane have now been completed with Rockingham Oval successfully transformed into the 'Village Green', which is now a sophisticated urban park.

LandCorp will commence the release of residential lots within the Waterfront Village during 2006 and it is expected that interest in these lots will be strong, given the many qualities that the area offers. Further information can be sourced at www.rockinghamwaterfrontvillage.com.au or download the complete Waterfront Village Policy.


Waterfront