McGowan clears stance on marina

Member for Rockingham and WA Labor leader Mark McGowan has set the record straight on his views on the proposed Mangles Bay Marina, telling theTelegraph he supports a tourism-oriented development, but not canals.

The contentious project, driven by Landcorp and Cedar Woods, sits with the WA Planning Commission following a period of public submissions earlier this year.

Greens South Metropolitan MLC Lynn MacLaren and the Hands Off Point Peron group have, over time, called on Mr McGowan to clarify his stance on the proposal.

They cite a 2003 letter to then Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan asking for a $250,000 feasibility study as evidence of his support for amarina.

Mr McGowan has looked to set the record straight, saying the latest proposal for a housing estate, marina and canal development had been at the whim of the current Liberal government.

“I have made it crystal clear that I am not a supporter of canals,” he said.

“I have made that position clear to the community, Greens and everyone else over a long period of time.

“People like to misrepresent my position ... but my position is crystal clear: no canals.”

Mr McGowan said he did, however, support tourism-oriented developments.

“(Such as) hotels, good boating facilities, restaurants, cafes and the like. If housing was needed to help support and fund that, then I would support that as well,” he said.

“I think a reasonable compromise is the best way to go here. The site in question is not on the Shoalwater side and it is not beyond the causeway in the part of Point Peron that people, including me, like to ... enjoy. We need to maintain and protect our environment but if there’s an opportunity for environmentally acceptable development in Rockingham that creates tourism jobs then don’t we all support that? I do.”

The WAPC has stated that a decision on the marina proposal will be made by the end of the year.