The Point Grey Marina was back on the agenda at the Shire of Murray council meeting on Thursday in a final push to stop the contentious development.
It has been a long-running battle since the 300-berth marina was proposed, with locals, environmental groups, community leaders and politicians calling for the development to be stopped for over a decade.
At a meeting on January 21, Murray councillors voted to remove a marina from a list of allowed uses at the Point Grey site.
The Peel-Harvey Catchment Council supported the Shire's decision to remove discretion for planning approval of a marina and urged the Planning minister to approve the amended scheme.
"The greatest threats to the environmental values of the Peel-Yalgorup Ramsar Site, and in particular the estuary, from the Point Grey Marina development are those associated with dredging activity to construct and maintain the proposed marina entrance channel and navigation channel," Peel-Harvey Catchment Council chief executive Jane O'Malley said.
"A review of the information collected during the ARC-Linkage project regarding the indicators of the ecological health of the estuary revealed that the proposed development is situated in an area of the estuary that provides high quality habitat relative to other areas of the estuary.
"Decision makers absolutely must consider the cumulative impacts of the development on the values of the Peel-Yalgorup Ramsar Site and in particular the Peel-Harvey estuary."
Mrs O'Malley also made mention of the financial risks that could fall on the local community, and the social and economic values of the Peel-Harvey waterways.
Previously:
- Mandurah council rally behind Shire of Murray to stop Point Grey Marina
- 'Save our estuary': Residents rally behind Shire of Murray to stop Point Grey marina
- Point Grey Marina development back on council agenda
- Shire of Murray deems Point Grey marina 'unsuitable'
- Tian An Australia 'remains committed' to Point Grey Marina project
Shire of Murray chief executive Dean Unsworth said the decision to not permit a marina would assist developers with future visions for the site.
"Removing a marina as a use that is not permitted under Point Grey zoning ensures future decision making is guided by a relevant and appropriate framework," he said.
"This in turn will now assist the developer with investigations into a vision for the site, which addresses the environmental sensitivities of the land and estuary as well as contemporary planning principles and issues."
If approved by the Planning minister, the amended documents would only allow for a development such as a chalet park, bed and breakfast accommodation, or an educational establishment in the area.
The minister is set to make a decision within the next 90 days.
