Ian Goodenough (Moore, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Ocean Reef Marina development in the Moore electorate is estimated to generate $800 million of investment that includes a mix of residential, commercial and retail uses as well as provision for up to 850 moorings for recreational boats. The proposal covers 91 hectares, with 57.8 hectares of land based development and 33.6 hectares of development off the coast or on reclaimed land. A vibrant marina precinct will create local employment—in particular, diversified jobs in the hospitality and tourism industries. Public support is extremely high, with 11,728 responses received to a survey by the City of Joondalup and 93.9 per cent of respondents being in favour of the marina development.

Unfortunately the project has to be assessed under the two-tier system of state and federal approval processes, which has considerably delayed progress since 2004. For example, the project was determined a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act on 13 July 2009 due to potential impacts on listed threatened species and communities. While the project is a controlled action, it is not possible to determine the appropriate assessment approach under the EPBC Act until the Western Australian government has decided on its assessment approach under state legislation. Similarly, the complex and bureaucratic approvals process must deal with issues relating to the Marmion Marine Park, Bush Forever and Carnaby's black cockatoo. At a state level, in July 2013 the City of Joondalup submitted a Metropolitan Region Scheme amendment to the Western Australian Planning Commission together with technical information relating to detailed studies of the environment, water quality, landscape, traffic and transport. An amendment is required to rezone the area from parks and recreation purposes to urban purposes and to create additional waterway access zones and new parks and recreation reserve lands. In summary, the Ocean Reef Marina development is a significant source of investment, local job creation and amenity for residents. What is needed is a more efficient approvals process to ensure the timely progress of the project without the bureaucracy and red tape of the current two-tier state and federal system.