Have your say on the new marina site

Conservationists are urging residents to contribute to a public review on a marina development at Point Peron they say will block access to a popular beach, destroy fisheries and seagrass beds, and threaten endangered ‘‘living rock’’ thrombolites.

The proposed Mangles Bay Marina would turn just under 80ha of public land between he Garden Island causeway and Palm Beach into high-rise housing, canals, hotels and restaurants, and add 500 boat berths to the area.

The 10-week public environmental review opened on Monday, and Hands off Point Peron spokeswoman Dawn Jecks said she hoped to achieve record numbers of submissions to the Environmental Protection Authority-led review.

She said the review was an opportunity for those with concerns about the project to be heard.

Preserve Point Peron spokesman James Mumme said the development included canals that ran close to Lake Richmond, home to one of about 12 sites worldwide containing examples of endangered thrombolites.

They are credited with creating oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere and are examples of the earliest life forms.

‘‘The reason that you and I are breathing oxygen is probably attributable to the thrombolites,’’ Mr Mumme said.

Stuart Duplock, project manager for developers Cedar Woods, said studies showed ground-water quality would not be affected during the development and operation phases of the marina, and water level fluctuations would be within about 3cm, posing no risk to the thrombolites in Lake Richmond.

Trials also indicated seagrass in the area could be replanted and would reach pre- development levels within seven years, he said.

South Metropolitan MLC Phil Edman said the construction phase would employ an estimated 1100 people and the marina would create 600 extra jobs once i t was up and running.

‘‘This project will bring massive amounts of economic sustainability, not just to Rockingham but to the whole district,’’ Mr Edman said.

Mr Edman said he believed the EPA’s assessment process would ensure the environment was protected.

Conservation groups are planning on taking a model of their proposed alternative development of the area, that would see the site turned into a protected marine park, to libraries and shopping centres during the review period.