You can read a statement from Special Minister of State Gary Gray here:

THE HON GARY GRAY AO MP

SPECIAL MINISTER OF STATE

MEDIA RELEASE

2 February 2012

WYNDHAM JETTY OPEN FOR ANGLERS

Anglers in Wyndham will cast their first lines from the Wyndham Community Recreational Fishing Jetty when it opens this weekend. The $7 million project funded by the Federal Government will be officially opened this Saturday by the Special Minister for State, Gary Gray and the WA Leader of the Nationals, and WA Minister for Regional Development, Brendon Grylls.

Gary Gray said the Australian Government’s $195 million East Kimberley Development Package had delivered real benefits for the community of Wyndham not least of which is the jetty.

“This jetty is an important piece of infrastructure for the local region. It will serve the area for decades to come.

“It will be a publically accessible all-tides jetty that provides unrestricted access for local community members and small craft wishing to engage in recreational fishing. Importantly, this project has been vital for the local community as it will facilitate safe access to deep water for recreational fishing, particularly for local Indigenous people. The construction of this jetty provides the Wyndham community with a substantial community asset which would facilitate significant social and community growth.”

The project is one of a number of significant projects for the East Kimberley funded by the Australian Federal Government.

“Already the community swimming pool and residential rehabilitation facility have been opened and we have had a number of other facilities completed such as the Picture Gardens Upgrade, 17 social houses built, hospital upgrades and the Wyndham Sobering Up Centre established.

“These projects are important for the community of Wyndham and the opening of the Wyndham Community Recreational Fishing Jetty will provide a long-lasting community facility for people of all ages both now and into the future.”

Gary Gray has a special link with the East Kimberley having worked extensively with Brendon Grylls, the Leader of the WA Nationals, to implement the Federal Government’s East Kimberley Redevelopment Package.

Event details:

Opening of Wyndham Jetty

Date: Saturday 4 February 2012

Time: 0800 – 0900

Venue: Anthon’s Landing (off end of Gambier Street, Wyndham WA)

Goose Hill - photo by Rowena Mouda

Buildup weather – taken by Rowena Mouda while fishing with family on Tuesday morning.

Dampier Peninsula police say eight fish were killed and a further 20 injured.

ABC [read this story]

Norman Moore

Fisheries minister Norman Moore wants to see a “pre-approved” area for fish farming and other Kimberley aquaculture.

He announced new funding for planning approvals and strategic environmental assessments to be made.

You can read a media release here:

Government of Western Australia

Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Hon. Norman Moore MLC

16/12/11 Minister for Fisheries

MEDIA STATEMENT

Zoning provides future security for aquaculture

• $1.85million investment underpins substantial WA aquaculture industry

• Mid-West and Kimberley earmarked for investment-ready development zones

Western Australian Government funding will deliver two regional development zones in the Mid-West and Kimberley to help boost the State’s aquaculture potential.

Fisheries Minister Norman Moore said the objective of the investment-ready zones was to provide pre-approved areas for defined commercial aquaculture activities to be undertaken.

“Latest figures indicate global aquaculture production is expected to reach up to 85 million metric tons by 2020, and that rise in worldwide output is a positive trend that we want to encourage in WA,” Mr Moore said.

The $1.85million commitment will enable comprehensive information to be gathered to undertake strategic environmental assessments required for environmental approvals for the identified zones.

The Minister said the funding would also enable additional research for planning approvals, continuing environmental management and monitoring of the zones, which would provide investors greater certainty on locations than the current project-by-project model.

The recent passage of legislative amendments had removed significant uncertainty about investment in large-scale aquaculture projects.

“In early November, the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) had forecast that, by next year (2012), more than 50 per cent of the world’s food fish consumption would come from aquaculture,” Mr Moore said.

“Food security is an important issue around the world and WA needs to ensure it can offer opportunity for investment and growth in both ocean and land-based aquaculture. The community will benefit from employment opportunities and economic diversification for regional industries.”

One of the ocean zones is expected to be in State waters near Geraldton, while in the Kimberley, Cone Bay provides a possible location.

“There is also enormous potential for land-based aquaculture zones as well. Aquaculture products, such as algae production for biofuels and artemia production in WA, have already attracted international investment and proven to be commercially successful,” the Minister said.

“These opportunities are also being explored by the Department of Fisheries, in a joint project with the departments of Regional Development and Lands and State Development.”

Fact File

• More details on the growth in world aquaculture production is available from the FAO website http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/94232/icode/

Kimberley Echo [read this story]

You can read a shire media release here:

2 December 2011 For immediate release

Cable Beach Ramp closed for maintenance

The Shire wishes to advise that the Cable Beach Ramp will be closed for maintenance repairs from Monday 5th December until Friday 9th December.

Throughout this period temporary closures will be in place to ensure Operational works are conducted effectively and to ensure there safety is controlled.

For information on the works please contact the Shire on 9191 3456

It has previously relied on wild shell harvested from the Eighty Mile Beach.

ABC [read this story]

The three men, whose dinghy had capsized, were seen on the beach near Crab Creek but wandered off into the scrub before rescuers could reach them.

ABC [read this story]

A helicopter had spotted them walking along Crab Creek Road, but they have since gone missing again, possibly in the mangroves.

ABC [read this story]

The two man and one woman, who had been reported missing, were found yesterday walking along Crab Creek Road.

ABC [read this story]