Augusta Celebrates Opening of New Harbor

A new $36.47 million Augusta boat harbor, officially opened today by Premier Colin Barnett and Regional Development Minister Terry Redman, will offer sheltered water and service facilities to thousands of commercial and recreational boaties in the South-West.

The Augusta Boat Harbor, made possible by the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program, includes a four-lane boat launching facility, floating finger jetties and 40 boat pens.

Mr Barnett said the harbor would provide a much-needed safe haven for vessels navigating the rugged coastline between Albany and Busselton.

“About 30 per cent of the State’s regional recreational boating fleet is based in the South-West, and that is likely to grow from 13,000 to more than 22,000 boats over the next 15 years,” he said.

“This new facility will also support the region’s commercial and tourism fleet. The Government has ensured there is room to increase the number of pens and to accommodate commercial development as demand inevitably grows.”

Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said the flow-on effects from the harbor would bring economic and social benefits to the Augusta community and the entire South-West.

“The need for a safe anchorage in Augusta was first recognized by the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River and the Government almost 20 years ago and this new harbor is the culmination of years of hard work and planning by a dedicated group,” Mr Redman said.

Transport Minister Dean Nalder said the Department of Transport (DoT) had demonstrated its considerable expertise in delivering the project on budget and it would be an additional asset in DoT’s State-wide network of facilities.

Fact File

– Construction of the new harbor began in October 2011. It involved the creation of 600 meter and 150m-long breakwaters using 500,000 tonnes of granite from the onsite quarry and 40,000 cubic meters of imported sand fill;

– Funded with $34.6 million from Royalties for Regions and $1.87 million from the Maritime Facilities Program and the Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme.

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Press Release