CRUCIAL information relating to the Point Grey marina development has not yet been given to the State and Commonwealth Ministers charged with assessing the environmental damage caused by dredging, according to Mandurah MLA David Templeman.
Mr Templeman said at the weekend community rally opposing the Point Grey development information came to light about DEC research on monosulphidic black ooze which suggests that dredging in the Peel Harvey estuary in completely unsustainable.
"I was astounded to hear that Environment Minister Bill Marmion is going to give the go-ahead to the Point Grey development without being aware of this research," he said.
"I understand the research is being carried out by DEC and an Eastern States university and has not yet been made available to Mr Marmion.
"This is alarming news.
"I am calling for Mr Marmion to request an urgent briefing on the research, which is being conducted by his own department and, by all accounts, sheds new light on the dangers of sediment movement and the extreme risks associated with acid sulphate soils.
"This is directly relevant to the Point Grey development, which involves a significant channel being gouged through the middle of the Peel Harvey estuary.
"The EPA report on the proposal makes the point that not enough research has been done to draw firm conclusions.
"Now we actually have the evidence that shows all the concerns expressed by the local community may in fact be well-founded."
Mr Templeman said that DEC must brief Minister Marmion without delay.
"The research must also be given to Federal Minister Tony Burke so that he is not kept in the dark while he is making decisions about Commonwealth assessment of the Point Grey marina," he added.
Mr Templeman repeated his request for Mr Marmion to visit the site of the Point Grey development.
“I have repeatedly asked the Minister to come and see for himself exactly what the proposal involves," he said.
"So far all I've heard back is a deafening silence."
