THE developer behind a proposed inland marina development at Rockingham says it will attempt to emulate the success of the Mandurah Ocean Marina as it transforms the Rockingham foreshore near Cape Peron.
THE developer behind a proposed inland marina development at Rockingham says it will attempt to emulate the success of the Mandurah Ocean Marina as it transforms the Rockingham foreshore near Cape Peron.
Last month, Perth-based ASX-listed developer Cedar Woods sought to clarify any misconceptions surrounding the location of its Cape Peron marina project by renaming it Mangles Bay.
The Mangles Bay project, which is being developed in conjunction with LandCorp, is proposed to be a complete marina development with stacking facilities, boat repair and refuelling services, cafes, restaurants and holiday accommodation alongside a marine science education centre.
The development area is a 75-hectare parcel of land between the Garden Island causeway and Palm Beach, some of which is currently being used by the Mangles Bay yacht club.
Cedar Woods state manager Stuart Duplock told WA Business News the project would provide room for up to 500 boat pens, open up the beachfront from the Garden Island causeway along Mangles Bay, while $5 million would be spent on remediation and enhancement of the balance of Cape Peron.
LandCorp and Cedar Woods are currently preparing the proposal for environmental assessment and planning approvals.
“We will shortly be lodging documents marking the beginning of the environmental approvals process,” Mr Duplock said.
“As the project proceeds, we will continue to keep the community engaged and informed as the finer grained details of the development evolve.”
LandCorp metropolitan general manager Luke Willcock said Cedar Woods’ track record of delivering residential developments Nautilus, The Jetty and Aria projects in Rockingham would hold the developer in good stead to deliver a range of community benefits.
“Besides creating a safe marina for the growing numbers of boat owners, one very important goal is to improve the access for everyone in the community to the beachfront between the Garden Island causeway and Palm Beach,” Mr Willcock said.
“During the past six months we have conducted a range of engineering and environmental studies such as geo-technical surveys and flora audits.
“The results of these studies and our work with the community and the Department of Environment and Conservation will assess the environmental acceptance of a marina-based tourism precinct.”
Also in the Rockingham area, construction has begun on a 475-pen marina development, which was signed off for approval by Environment Minister Donna Faragher in February.
The development site, near Wanliss Street, has been designated for a commercial pier development for over a decade.
Port Rockingham, which is currently being developed by DevX and project managed by the team behind the Mandurah Ocean Marina, Benchmark Projects, will also have the capacity to house bigger boats and super yachts, alongside cafes, restaurants, shopping outlets and boat servicing areas.
The Port Rockingham marina is the second marina development currently under construction along the metropolitan coast, joining the 360-pen Port Coogee marina.
Demand for boat pens is at an all-time high, thanks to a significant increase in the number of recreational boat registrations in Western Australia.
A Department of Planning and Infrastructure report, ‘The Perth Recreational Boating Facilities Study 2008’ predicted recreational boat numbers in Perth would increase from 48,468 in 2007 to 84,857 in 2025.
In response to this demand, there are up to 2,500 new boat pens in the development pipeline, from Yanchep in the north to Rockingham in the south.
The Port Coogee marina is also expected to become a major tourist drawcard, with the entire Australand development valued at $2 billion of commercial, residential and recreational developments
Also, the City of Joondalup is compiling its business and structure plan for an 850-pen marina and associated residential and commercial developments at Ocean Reef.
The city’s concept plan calls for 585 residential dwellings, 200 hotel rooms in a four- to five-star resort with convention facilities, 4,000 square metres of retail floorspace, and 3,600sqm of food, beverage and hospitality facilities.
The site has been recognised as having the potential for development as a major tourism and recreation node for more than 30 years.
To the north of Joondalup at Alkimos, there are two major marinas planned.
In a key element of the development of the Alkimos region, LandCorp wants to build a marina as part of coastal village on land formerly owned by the Water Corporation.
Also in the northern corridor, privately owned developer Eglington Estates holds approvals for a marina development that was originally linked to a failed Japanese-funded resort and golf project.
The Fremantle Port Authority is also still evaluating its options for a potential marina development at Rous Head, after Premier Colin Barnett poured cold water on the contentious North Port Quay development, which was proposed to deliver 2,500 boat pens in an island marina.