In September 2022 the Department of Transport revised access to the waters within the marina for safety reasons. The updated notice can be viewed here, but in summary:

• The waters are closed to all vessels within 20m of construction works occurring on the Ocean Reef Marina Southern breakwater.
• All waters of the Ocean Reef Marina are closed to windsurfing, Kitesurfing and winging activities.
• All waters within the silt curtain are closed to all vessels other than vessels associated with construction of the marina and swimming is prohibited.

The next stage in the construction of Ocean Reef Marina includes dredging and clearing to enable the commencement of land-based works, in preparation for future development and to provide fill for land reclamation.

The map below outlines the areas where clearing and earthworks will be undertaken, and the area that will be reclaimed as part of the development.

The dredging will create adequate water depths for vessel navigation and storage within the marina. It will extend up to 100m offshore from the newly reclaimed land and will provide a minimum depth within the marina basin of 3m below Australian Height Datum (AHD). The plan below shows the scope of the dredging (hatched area).

Local businesses WA Limestone and Italia Stone Group, the contractor for the breakwater construction, has been selected to undertake the works.

Works commenced August 2022, with completion antiticpated for mid-2023.

This stage of works is unlikely to have significant impacts on nearby residents, and may even reduce impacts that some residents have experienced during the breakwater construction. For example, there will be significantly less heavy vehicles travelling to site for these works. In addition, the earthworks may reduce some of the sand piles at the northern end of the project, reducing the risk of dust escaping from site. The work will also be occurring during the wetter months of the year, which may assist in managing dust.

However, the contractor will be required to follow an approved Construction Management Plan which details how noise, dust and vibration will be managed, minimising impacts on the surrounding area.

There is a possibility, depending on a range of factors such as prevailing winds and weather conditions, that there may occasionally be some odour from the stockpiles of material removed during dredging.

If odour occurs, it will be temporary and not harmful to health.

The intention is to limit the amount of time these stockpiles remain on site, and to place it into the areas to be reclaimed as quickly as possible.

As part of the Construction and Traffic Management Plans for the works, the hours for activity are Monday to Saturday 7am to 6pm

Unfortunately, no. Access to the beaches within the marina site will be permanently closed as they are part of the future development area.

In recognition of the importance of recreational fishing in Ocean Reef, access to the existing boat ramps will be maintained at all times during this stage of works.

In September 2022 the Department of Transport revised access to the waters within the marina for safety reasons. The updated notice can be viewed here, but in summary:

• The waters are closed to all vessels within 20m of construction works occurring on the Ocean Reef Marina Southern breakwater.
• All waters of the Ocean Reef Marina are closed to windsurfing, Kitesurfing and winging activities.
• All waters within the silt curtain are closed to all vessels other than vessels associated with construction of the marina and swimming is prohibited.

There will be significantly less heavy vehicles travelling to and from the site compared to the breakwater construction. Approximately 60,000 tonnes of rock will need to be delivered to site, compared to more than 950,000 tonnes of rock for the breakwater construction.

In addition, the project will reuse material from on-site clearing as fill, reducing and possibly eliminating the need to import material to site, and therefore further reducing heavy vehicle movements.

Access to the site will be via the existing routes established for the breakwater construction works.

Material removed during dredging will be temporarily stockpiled on site. Once the material has dried out, organic material will be removed from the surface and trucked off site for disposal. Material which is suitable for re-use will be retained on site for reclamation purposes.

The landside component of these works will be undertaken via approval from the West Australian Planning Commission (subdivision approval) which was received in March 2021.

The marine side component of these works was assessed and approved as part of the environmental assessment process and all works will be guided by Environmental Protection Authority approved management plans as required under the Public Environmental Review (PER) approval received in 2019.

As part of the environmental approval received in 2019, dredging activities were unable to commence until the breakwaters were in place. This was to ensure that any turbidity generated during the dredging works would be largely contained within the marina basin.

Additional measures to manage impacts to marine fauna, as outlined in the Marine Construction Monitoring and Management Plan, include:

• Installing a silt curtain surrounding the works to further manage turbidity
• A Marine Fauna Observer will be present on site during all works completed within the water
• Construction and dredging equipment will be appropriately cleaned and checked for marine pests
• Regular monitoring of water quality to ensure standards are maintained

Throughout land-side clearing works, South West Aboriginal Land & Sea Council approved Whadjuk Noongar representatives will be present on site to monitor the works to investigate any potential areas of interest.

Prior to the start of clearing works, a specialist will be engaged to undertake a fauna relocation program.

A zoologist will be on site during clearing works to relocate any fauna encountered.

The Construction Management Plan also details measures to protect fauna for the duration of works.

Last year , over 40 mammals and reptiles were successfully moved to nearby bushland areas.

These works provide an opportunity to bring forward the relocation of the Ocean Reef Sea Sports Club and Marine Rescue Whitfords into new facilities. This phase of works will create the sites required for construction commencement of their new facilities that will begin in 2023.