In
an effort to get a good cross sectional view from the WA boating community and
Western Australian families a series of important community forums are being
held for all who may wish to have a say in relation to the North Port Quay
Concept.
The Community Workshops are planned for:
-
Saturday 19th
July 2008, at the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle for approximately two
hours commencing about 2pm with some light refreshments afterwards for
participants.
-
Saturday 30th
Aug 2008, at Novotel Langley Hotel in Perth at 2pm...
If
you are interested in being involved please email details to
admin@biawa.asn.au
..
Thank you for all your support and assistance and we look forward to receiving
many registrations to drive home the need for facilities such as North Port Quay
for all boat owners and Western Australian families ---- you can make a
difference.
North Port Quay Concept.
The construction of six islands behind a 3.5km breakwater at North Port Quay
will only go ahead if the State Government releases 345ha of seabed for lease
and then freehold after environmental and planning approvals are gained.
North Port Quay Pty Ltd and a bunch of high-profile investors want to build six
islands off Fremantle to accommodate 20,000 people, 100,000sqm of office space,
two schools, 2200 boat pens, a performing arts centre, three beaches, a
surf reef, a five-star hotel and a convention centre.
The $10 billion plan across 345ha of seabed at Fremantle’s North Quay will sit
behind a 3.5km seawall to “withstand global warming and storm surges” and has
been described by developers as a Darling Harbour-type precinct with boutique
retail, restaurants and cafes.
Proponents say the project will use wind, wave and solar energy to generate all
its electricity and an area of seabed currently bare of seagrass from decades of
port activity will provide new habitats for marine life. Images are provided on
the web link below.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=635805
When quizzed about the proposal last month, Planning Minister Alannah
MacTiernan said she had told the proponents three years ago it would not be
accepted by the public because it was too large. “I understand there has been
some revision, but he’s got a lot of hurdles to surmount before it could get
under way,” she said.
BoatingWA president Simon Joel said it was about time someone took the
initiative to propose a development that would alleviate the extreme shortage of
boat pens in the Perth metro area. Its all very well to dismiss every proposal
that comes along but eventually the boating public will have to pay for a major
development to improve the critical shortage of facilities, its good to see a
marina and public boat ramps included in this development..
Fremantle Ports chief executive Kerry Sanderson said she was concerned the
proposal engulfed the port, potentially affecting the efficiency of its
operations.
“We also have safety concerns in terms of the access road and the potential for
recreational vessels to impact on the shipping channel,” she said. “Ports
worldwide are being threatened by urban encroachment because when people move
nearby they suddenly complain about the 24-hour operation and try to get them
closed down.”
Fremantle mayor Peter Tagliaferri said he would keep an open mind on the concept
until he was fully briefed, suggesting it was exciting but there were concerns
about reclamation, integration and transport conflict.
Save Freo Beaches Alliance convener Michael Martin said the failed Three
Harbours proposal had shown locals were against the privatisation of the seabed
but the developers needed the chance to explain their proposal.
The chairman of urban think-tank FuturePerth, Sean Morrison, said the nay-sayers
should wait to see the detail.
