Govt unveils marina, dust plans for Port Hedland

The state government is planning to restrict new residential developments in the west end of Port Hedland while also implementing a new regulatory framework for air quality in the town, which is located adjacent to large iron ore stockpiles.

Premier Mark McGowan unveiled the dust management plans today, while also releasing plans for a heavily scaled-down marina.

Today’s announcement was the government’s long-awaited response to its Port Hedland dust taskforce report.

The taskforce was set up in response to concerns that air quality in the town’s historic west end would have damaging health effects.

The government said measures should be introduced to cap (and if possible, reduce) the number of permanent residents in dust-affected areas of Port Hedland.

It supported the taskforce recommendation that planning controls be implemented to prohibit sensitive land uses and restrict population growth in the West End.

Sensitive land uses include the likes of child care centres and aged care facilities.

To give effect to this, the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) will finalise and oversee an 'improvement plan'.

The precise boundaries of the plan will be developed in consultation with the Town of Port Hedland.

In response to community concerns raised in the consultation process, the government said owners of residential properties damaged by a natural disaster such as a cyclone would be able to redevelop their properties – provided that the redevelopment would not result in an “intensification or expansion of a non-conforming use”.

The government has also transferred responsibility for operating and maintaining the air quality monitoring network from the Port Hedland Industries Council to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.

The department will also develop a dust management guideline for bulk handling port premises.

“The release of my government’s response to the dust report is an important step in our plans to secure the future of Hedland,” Mr McGowan said.

“I’m pleased we are now in a position to provide clarity the community needs, taking into account the health of residents as well as job-creating industries in the area.”

In related news, the planned Spoilbank Marina will initially comprise 20 boat pens, with capacity to expand to 45.

The development will feature a two-lane boat ramp, two breakwaters and internal revetment walls, and a separate access channel to exit into deeper water adjacent to the main Port Hedland shipping channel.

Landside works will include a boat and trailer parking area, a new combined event space and a dry dock area for the Port Hedland Yacht Club.

New public open spaces and retail and commercial pop-up facilities also feature within the plans.

Current cost estimates for the revised design are $95 million.

The government has set aside a further $15 million for ongoing maintenance costs. 

Detailed design work will now begin for the plan.

By comparison, the Barnett government committed $112 million to the marina in 2016, and detailed plans for between 100 and 150 boat pens.

Mr McGowan said the project was important to the Pilbara region.

“We will soon begin work on the detailed design phase to ensure the project delivers not just for boat users, but for the Hedland community as a whole,” he said.

“The project will inject economic activity into the region, creating local jobs in the local Port Hedland economy.

The Port Hedland Industries Council (PHIC) welcomed the government’s responsem with chief executive Peter Pierre saying it provided much-needed certainty for the town’s residents, investors and users of the port.

“The proposal to implement an improvement plan for the West End of Port Hedland addresses one of the key recommendations of the Port Hedland Dust and Noise Management Task Force, and once implemented should ensure   that Port Hedland’s residents and investors can move forward in the knowledge that there is a cohesive plan in place for the future development of the town,” Mr Pierre said.

“PHIC supports commercial development in the West End and its use as a commercial, historical and cultural and community centre. 

“PHIC members have and continue to make substantial investments in the West End to support this objective.”

The Town of Port Hedland also welcomed the government’s response, saying it struck the right balance between decreasing community dust exposure without jeopardising port expansion, industry development and job creation. 

Mayor Camilo Blanco said action on the report’s recommendations was a critical step in securing ongoing industry investment in the town.

“This decision provides Council with much needed certainty concerning dust management and the future of the West End, and frees the gridlock on development applications in this area of town," he said.

"Further, it takes the hand break off the future expansion of and tonnage through the Port with all the associated increases in local jobs for our community."