Port Coogee marina about to kick off

Australand has announced it is about to commence construction of the Port Coogee marina, just south of Fremantle.

The national developer sounded a public call for expressions of interest on the marina's first 60 bays this week, and said it expected to experience huge demand.

Once complete, the Port Coogee marina will cater for up to 300 boats, inluding sail craft up to 20 metres.

It will feature refuelling and sullage facilities and a range of marine services for penned and visiting boats.

Australand WA general manager Tony Perrin said construction of the floating pens would commence over the next few months, with the first boats scheduled to take up residence at the marina in January.

"Perth is desperately in need of more boat pens so to be able to finally start building the pens at Port Coogee is a significant step forward for this world-class project," he said.

Boating Industry Association of WA general manager Sherry Donaldson welcomed the announcement, saying the industry had suffered as a result of a shortage of boat pens in the metropolitan area.

Recreational boat registrations have almost doubled from 48,468 in 2007 to 81,202 in 2010.

"Boat builders are currently in the unenviable position of having clients who are thinking twice about purchasing a vessel because they cannot access a pen," Ms Donaldson said.

The expressions of interest process for the first 60 pens closes on June 17.