State Opposition and Federal MP call on McGowan Government to act on Jurien Bay Marina’s seaweed problem

Jurien Bay’s toxic marina was a topic of discussion in State and Federal Parliament last week, with National and Liberal politicians calling on the McGowan Government to take action and fix the situation. The build-up of seaweed and sand in the marina has been a regular seasonal problem for the marina, as low oxygen levels in the harbour waters lead to fish kills. The State Government carried out dredging of the marina earlier this year, but that has been described as a short-term solution by the Opposition, who has said money needed to be committed to a reconfiguration plan for the marina which was released in 2020 by the Department of Transport. Moore MLA and Opposition Leader Shane Love asked Minister for Transport Rita Saffioti if she was seeking funding for the marina’s reconfiguration in State Parliament on March 29. Ms Saffioti responded by stating there were “enormous infrastructure demands” across WA which needed to be addressed, and said the Government was managing its priorities. “We will continue to work systematically through the priorities and hope to secure funding and also dredge when needed,” she said. Ms Saffioti said this issue was one of many the Liberals and Nationals had left for Labor when it formed government in 2017. “The Nationals had 8½ years. There is so much unmet demand around the State in my portfolio, whether it be port developments, maritime developments or roads,” she said. Mr Love said Ms Saffioti’s response was “concerning”. “People are absolutely fed up with it . . . we’ve got people who have indicated they are ready to do developments around the marina but they aren’t going to do it when it stinks like that,” he said. In Federal Parliament, Durack MP Melissa Price also raised the issue, speaking on March 28 in the Lower House. “This issue has significant environmental impacts, along with identified health risks to swimmers and a smell described by many as ‘simply unbearable’,” she said. “I call on the WA State Government to please listen to the Jurien Bay community, and to fix their marina as a matter of urgency. They deserve nothing less.”