Jurien Bay Boat Harbour suffocates with seaweed as DoT reconfiguration project set to begin late 2025

Jurien Bay residents are concerned inflation will drive up costs to reconfigure their beloved boat harbour the longer construction is delayed, as unhealthy quantities of seaweed continue to infest the marina. The State Government announced a $17.5 million investment to reconfigure the entrance of the Jurien Bay Boat Harbour in the 2024-25 State budget, which involves extending the northern breakwater by 170m to address the build up of seaweed and water quality issues. Department of Transport confirmed construction contracts were expected to be awarded in 2025, with work commencing soon after. Community advocate Penelope Normington said despite dredging last year, nothing had changed and the harbour was clogged with weed again. “The birds are all circling now, the shire has removed weed from the foreshore but DoT need to arrange to scoop up weed before it sinks and makes H2S (hydrogen sulphide) gas,” she said. H2S is a colourless gas with a rotten egg odour generated by the breakdown of seaweed and other organic material, which in large amounts can lead to fish kills and corrode vessels. Ms Normington said residents were concerned inflation would drive costs up the longer the project was delayed. “$17.5 million is not going to be enough if they delay the construction of the new groyne extension. People want to see something happening, the new extension will stop the weed coming into the marina,” she said. “People are telling me they are worried by the time the work starts the costs will be higher.” Leader of the Opposition and member for Moore Shane Love said locals were fed up with the poor state of the marina and agreed costs were only going to rise. “Four years ago, the project was costed at $7.8 million and now it has blown out to be over $17 million,” he said. “Ten years ago when The Nationals WA were in Government, we instigated the Jurien Boat Harbour Steering Committee that saw proposed designs modelled to future tides, wind, wave and weed movement. “The delays have also stymied the development in the marina precinct as no one would want to invest while the fish kills continue.” A Department of Transport spokesperson said it was monitoring the issue and estimated ground works to reconfigure the harbour would begin late 2025. “Harbour Manager, the Department of Transport (DoT) will deliver the project with design and then construction contracts expected to be awarded next year, with work on site from late 2025,” they said. “The project, expected to take four years to complete, will also reduce the frequency of maintenance dredging required and stimulate private investment through a leasehold development within the harbour.”