Hamelin Bay stromatolites boardwalk receives $4.6m from State for replacement after 2021 cyclone damage

The State Government will invest more than $4 million into replacing the cyclone-damaged Hamelin Pool boardwalk in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area that has been closed off to visitors since April 2021. After cyclone Seroja tore through the Mid West and Gascoyne, a 1996-built timber boardwalk which allowed tourists a close up view of unique stromatolite formations was destroyed. The beach was cornered off and closed to visitors to help protect the heritage site. Last week, the State Government announced it would allocate $4.6m for the replacement of the Hamelin Pool boardwalk as part of its Mid-Year Review to upgrade and improve key tourism sites across WA. More than $25m was handed out to tourism attractions including the Denham attraction, Rottnest Island’s main jetty, Karijini National Park, Cape to Cape Walk Track in Margaret River and Wellington National Park. Member for North West Central Merome Beard welcomed the funding but said it was disappointing it took the State Government this long to take action. “It’s estimated that prior to the cyclone, the stromatolites, attracted around 130,000 visitors each year,” she said. “The region has missed out on significant tourism income and received negative reputational damage because people have not been able view the stromatolites, an ecological wonder many travel across the world to visit.” Ms Beard said the stromatolites was a vitally important tourism link for the shire and more investment was needed to improve tourism signage, amenities, parking and shade structures at the heritage site. “These enhancements will complement the boardwalk restoration and also contribute to a more enjoyable and accessible experience for visitors,” she said. ”I am urging the State Government to develop an integrated strategy that ensures the Shark Bay World Heritage Area remains a premier destination.” Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti said ensuring attractions and infrastructure remained world-class was important for tourism in WA. “Places like Rottnest Island and regions like the South West, North West and Coral Coast are already tourism hotspots attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, so we need to make sure they remain fit for purpose,” she said. “Importantly, these improvements will also support our local operators, who rely on good infrastructure to keep attracting visitors.” Close to 2.4 million people from interstate and overseas visited Western Australia in the year ending September 2023, with more than a third visiting the Gascoyne, Kimberley or South West regions. A Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions spokesperson said the project construction is planned to go ahead after engineers from DBCA complete detailed designs and environmental heritage approvals. The spokesperson said a timeline will be more clear after the design complete and approved.