Labor fears coastal plan

WA Labor has hit back at a proposal aired this week to investigate coastal communities, saying the State Government needs to invest in tourism towns like Augusta rather than selling off coastal land to developers.

Shadow environment spokesman Chris Tallentire criticised news Health Minister Kim Hames would head up a new Government sub-committee looking to broaden the scope of coastal access between Augusta and Esperance.

Mr Tallentire said the move was Liberal Party code for public-private partnerships that stoked fears National Park and other vested land could be opened up to development.

“We’ve got a magnificent tourism and environmental asset in the Augusta area. Obviously it’s an area that is much loved and much visited by West Australians, ” he said. “It doesn’t make sense to be talking about opening up or selling off (land) when there are areas like Augusta that are established tourism areas, and that’s where those funds should be targeted.”

The Government announcement the new Coastal Towns and Settlements Cabinet sub-committee would investigate existing and potential coastal developments and towns along WA’s south coast as well as the future of Coral Bay and the Abrolhos Islands.

“We also enjoy a beautiful coastline, especially along our southern coast between Augusta and Esperance, ” the Premier said in a media statement.

“I want to ask, what other areas could be opened up, and what do we need to do at these sites?”

Mr Tallentire was concerned the Planning Minister was on the sub-committee, but not the Environment Minister. Similar to recent criticisms of the proposed Growing Our South policy, Mr Tallentire also said there was no money budgeted for the new Liberal Party plan.

“That’s why my suspicion is it’ll be about selling land off, ” he said.

Margaret River-based MLC Barry House said Labor’s suggestion about selling off National Parks “is a silly statement”.

“Exploring options for increased access to the coast between Augusta and the South Australian border is an excellent and overdue idea, ” he said. “This will obviously explore options for further developments at Augusta, Walpole, Denmark, Albany and Esperance; plus possibilities for other places such as Windy Harbour, Bremer Bay and Hopetoun.

Shire president Mike Smart said the WA Government had already invested $35 million in the Augusta Boat Harbour. However, he said opening the south coast was unlikely to be viable given the difficulties of coastal access across rivers, sensitive bushland and sandy coastal deposits.