Shane Love MLA calls on the McGowan Government to act on Jurien Bay Marina citing $5.7 billion surplus

Moore MLA Shane Love has called on the McGowan Government to fix the Jurien Bay Marina following another fish kill. More than 230 people signed a petition earlier this year calling for urgent action to improve water quality at the marina, but no funding to upgrade the site was allocated in the State Budget. Locals have for years raised concerns about the boat harbour, with many claiming the marina’s poor design has resulted in rotting seaweed and other sediment being trapped and killing fish. Agricultural Region MLC Sandra Carr presented the petition, featuring 234 signatures, to Parliament in May. However, State Government negotiations with the Federal Government to co-fund the repairs proved unsuccessful. Mr Love said the McGowan Government should fund the necessary groyne in the upcoming mid-year review given their $5.7 billion surplus. “Fish kills have been a feature in Jurien Bay for over 20 years now and they have a drastic environmental and commercial consequence,” he said. According to Mr Love, the business case and engineering design for a 150-metre groyne extension were completed years ago. “In September 2020, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti advised that the preliminary cost estimate for the spur groyne was $7.8 million with construction works expected to take four to six months,” he added. “This recommendation followed six years of environmental studies that looked at weed and sand movement. “In the meantime, weed is trapped in the marina, the water becomes anoxic, more fish die and we contemplate spending millions of dollars dredging the marina and wondering what to do with the sediment that is dredged,” he said. Mr Love questioned how the Labor government could start work on the $120 million Ocean Reef Marina when they had not addressed the problem in Jurien Bay. “What’s been put in place is a death-trap for fish and it needs to be recognised, they know what’s happening. It’s just ridiculous now, they’ve got a solution, they’ve got the money, there is no excuse they need to end this situation once and for all,” he said.