Thank you to everyone who signed up.
Since we launched the Consultation Hub in December 2024, hundreds of people have subscribed.
As Westport progresses, we are committed to providing information, answering your questions and seeking your feedback.
The Cockburn Sound Consultation Hub will provide a platform to share and consult with the people who use and love Cockburn Sound.
Opportunities for consultation about Cockburn Sound will be shared through this Hub as they arise.
In the meantime, below is an update on:
- What we have heard so far from your responses.
- What stage Westport is currently at.
- A summary of the environmental impact assessment process.
- Our recent seagrass restoration efforts.
If you have a question or would like more information, you can contact us by replying to this email.
Thank you for subscribing. We have a lot of work to do this year and look forward to keeping you updated and consulting with you as we progress.
What we have heard so far from your responses
What you told us is consistent with feedback we have been receiving from the community at our regular Westport community events and our 2024 community survey.
We understand that safeguarding the health of Cockburn Sound is the number one thing the WA community wants us to get right.
Key themes we are hearing include:
- Concern about potential impacts of Westport on seagrass, particularly the impact of dredging on snapper and blue swimmer crab breeding grounds (amongst other species).
- How fishing, diving and kayaking access may change in Cockburn Sound, and how water-users will interact safely with increased shipping traffic.
- The cumulative impacts from other proposed developments in Cockburn Sound.
We also asked how you would like to hear from us. We note:
- 90% of respondents asked for regular e-newsletters.
- There was interest in briefings at local clubs and community events.
- We had requests for consultation activities like collaborative workshops and community round table events.
Based on this feedback we are creating a range of opportunities and will update you about these soon.
Westport recap
For anyone new to Westport, below is a snapshot of where we are now and what's next. The development of a new port in Kwinana is a long-term project, with the new port facilities not expected to be ready until the late 2030s.
We acknowledge there will be impacts to Cockburn Sound during construction of the port. Our commitment is that Westport will leave Cockburn Sound better off in the long-term.
We have invested $13.5 million in a partnership with the Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI) as an independent science provider, to deliver a comprehensive research program that fills important knowledge gaps about Cockburn Sound’s ecosystem.
The WAMSI-Westport Marine Science Program has more than 150 scientists and researchers working on over 30 marine studies. All the science reports are being made publicly available here.
This research has significantly influenced the port design and is informing our environmental impact assessment and mitigation planning.
In November 2024 the State Government gave Westport funding to progress to the next stage of planning called ‘project definition’. While we have a port and supply chain concept, this stage of work will produce the specifics required to commence development. We expect the definition stage will take several years.
During this stage, we will be able to better answer your questions, particularly around how we will minimise or manage environmental impacts to the greatest extent possible.
Environmental Impact Assessment
The definition phase will inform the environmental impact assessment with both the State and Commonwealth regulators. Westport’s environmental impacts will be assessed via the State and Commonwealth environmental protection acts, before construction of the port can commence.
This process is expected to take 2-3 years from referral (which was in early 2024) and will involve opportunities for public comment.
More information on the process and current assessment status for Westport can be found on our Environmental Impact Assessment page.
Seagrass Restoration
To support the long-term health of Cockburn Sound we need to start now.
Westport has invested $730,000 towards seagrass restoration in Cockburn Sound. This includes $500,000 in funding to OzFish Unlimited’s Seeds for Snapper program to undertake seagrass restoration activities involving recreational divers, fishers and the community.
The Seeds for Snapper program has been further boosted by an Australian-first trial of robotic seagrass seed injection technology, supported by an additional $230,000 investment by Westport, and managed by the University of Western Australia (UWA).
The robotic seagrass seed planter, developed by Ulysses Ecosystem Engineering, delivers seagrass seeds in a single stream, directly into the sediment, improving the likelihood of seagrass germination as compared to manual methods of seagrass seeds being dispersed into the water by hand.
Read more here.
What's next
Keep an eye out for our next e-newsletter where we will provide an update about opportunities to have your say.
For those who have not subscribed to receive these newsletters directly to your inbox, you can do so by checking the "Cockburn Sound Consultation Hub updates" option on our subscribe page.
