Just arrived home from a successful Community Conversations event focussed on waterfront development and the Port Hedland Marina. In the end around 130 residents attended and it was terrific to have such a diversity of ideas, statements, thoughts and questions presented from residents (long term, short term, old and young presented). My speech I gave is presented below for anyone was unable to attend and who is interested. There is a community reference group for this project being developed, so if you are interested in being involved please do not hesitate to let me know. Good morning and welcome fellow panel members, ladies & gentleman and thank you for coming and being a part of this morning’s Community Conversations event. At the outset, I would like to take the opportunity to respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land we are on this morning. I would also like to acknowledge the attendance of Hon Brendon Grylls Member for Pilbara and the Hon Jacqui Boydell Member Mining & Pastoral thank you for coming and being a part of today. The CEO in his introduction outlined the bulk of the Town’s position and the background of where we are currently in terms of the Waterfront and Port Hedland Marina development. As Mayor let me also re-iterate the Town of Port Hedland supports the development of the Old Hospital site with residential/commercial development and we also strongly support in principle the proposed Finbarr development and we strongly support activation of the Spoilbank. This morning I just want to take this opportunity to provide further context and highlight two very important decision point triggers that have set a course and made it such that we are where we are today and as a community we really are here at this point, like a small yacht in very rough weather, whether we like it or not. At the outset I want to stress again that the Town of Port Hedland is fully committed to activating our fantastic waterfront and developing a precinct that everyone can enjoy – this may include boardwalks, event space amphitheatre, safe swimming areas, playgrounds, boat ramps, fishing platforms, cafes/restaurants, barbecues, boat stackers, fuelling points and boat maintenance points. In one form or another the Town has been working on a marina precinct project for the community with serious intent since 2008/2009. Many of you have been involved in those efforts. In 2012 the TOPH handed over the waterfront and marina project to LandCorp and collaboratively we commenced investigations with the State Government and Landcorp to develop a marina at the Spoilbank site. Council’s resolution currently reflects this intent and is still primarily focussed on the Spoilbank site. These efforts and work culminated in a State Government commitment of $112M and the TOPH committing $40M for this project. This is a massive commitment both at a State and from the Council’s point of view and nothing like it we have seen here for our Town. But unfortunately while this combined commitment of $152 million is significant, it does not fully fund the proposed development which is in excess of $200M. That was fine as we had thought that the residential and commercial development on the Spoilbank, a mixture of cafes/restaurants and short term and permanent residential development would assist in providing the remaining funds that are required and in effect would ensure we have a fully funded project. This was dealt a massive blow and really is trigger point 1- when on the 9th August 2013 the EPA publicly advised that they were not able to consider the Local Planning Scheme Amendment that would allow built form on the Spoilbank until such time as the Health Risk Assessment has been finalised. This is expected to be delivered by mid 2015. This means today we do not have a fully funded project and we do not have the means to deliver what we said or what we want to deliver for our community. Despite some views within the community who think we have the money and we should just go out there and do the development. We don’t and we do not currently have a fully funded project we can proceed with. But as a Council we are extremely hopeful of the Health Risk Assessment outcomes being known mid 2015 and hopefully then this may clear the way for the our application to be re-lodged with the EPA and for the EPA to make an assessment and to permit residential development on the Spoilbank. This fits with the current project milestones and if so can potentially mean that if all the other relevant environmental, heritage, planning approvals come through, then things could proceed at the Spoilbank site. Procuring the relevant approvals and undertaking the necessary planning and investigatory works are still continuing and taking place at the Spoilbank site. The 2nd important trigger point I want everyone to be aware of took place on the 14th May this year, when the Deputy Mayor, CEO and myself met with the Premier the Honourable Colin Barnett. We discussed the Spoilbank Marina and the development of Port Hedlands West-End. The Premier was advised of the due diligence process being undertaken by the Town and Landcorp. The Premier strongly expressed concerns regarding the development of the marina on the Spoilbank (this was the first time and despite ther earlier Cabinet approval in terms of not supporting the Spoilbank marina proposal, especially given the announcements and State funding allocation). The Premier stated his concerns on the basis of the following reasons; 1. State Solicitors Office preparing legal advice that is likely to foreshadow risk to the State and possibly to the Town if the full marina and associated residential development occurs at the Spoilbank site. This is such that regardless of any other approvals sought, this State Solicitor’s advice would trump any other approvals gained. 2. The timing of obtaining all requisite approvals for the Spoilbank development is likely to take considerable time and it was even stressed it would be beyond this term of Government. 3. The State will always give precedence to shipping (in terms of importance) over recreational boating. The Premier also stated that; 1. Passive recreation and caravan/camping is supported on the Spoilbank. 2. The States $112M remains available for a Marina in Port Hedland 3. In his opinion, the timing of a Cooke Point development would be more expeditious than a similar Spoilbank development. 4. The State would go hard to ensure the delivery of a Cooke Point development. 5. The State would consider additional funding (over and above the $112M) to facilitate the Cooke Point development. These were the views expressed at this meeting by the Premier and our local member the Hon Brendon Grylls is also aware of these views and has met with the Premier on these views. In light of the information from the meeting on 14th May 2014 this new information has been conveyed to all Council (elected members and executive) and our State Government project partners LandCorp. Where to from here? So that in effect leaves us to where we are here today, definitely lines cast out in very stormy seas - 1. The Town, BHPBIO and Landcorp have agreed on the basis for the due diligence work assessment of the Cooke Point site. 2. Landcorp have been requested to progress with essential work on the Spoilbank site whilst the Cooke Point assessment is undertaken so that a comprehensive analysis of the two sites van be made. 3. This work should be completed within 6 months, allowing the Town to fully consider its options regarding a preferred Marina site and the costs and other consequences of selecting a site. I want to stress that no decision had been made yet on the Cooke Point site. In light of these two significant decision point triggers, the Town of Port Hedland is still strongly committed to developing a waterfront and Port Hedland Marina development precinct. As a Council our utmost concern is the risk of losing the State Government’s $112M. We are all only too well aware in Broome monies pledged for boating facilities were lost when issues arouse with the site and there was conflict in the community about the site. The waterfront and marina development is a game changer and a true city transition project for the Town, and any such decision moving forward cannot ignore or exclude the EPA/Premier/State Solicitor advice in the context of making any decision in the future. Over the next 6 months, in the context of these decisions and views once all the due diligence studies and information is available, Council represents the community, its views and best interests but any decision going forward must be in the context I have outlined and must together with community following consider: – what do we really want - what are we prepared to risk - what are we prepared to lose in the process if we go against the Premier and if the development cannot proceed during the term of this current Government Thank you
Posted on: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 05:14:13 +0000
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