THE City of Rockingham says it has received an assurance from the Transport Minister that it will ensure the proponent of Port Rockingham marina has the financial capacity to complete the project.
Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels said the City did not link its recommendation to the WA Planning Commission for conditional planning approval of the marina to proponent Aureus Pty Ltd’s financial capacity to build the development.
“It would be inappropriate to do so and the City agrees (with the WAPC) that it is not a relevant planning consideration,” Cr Sammels said.
“It (the council) also resolved, separate to the planning approval, to request the State Government through the Minister for Transport to satisfy itself that the proponent had the financial capacity to fully construct the development.
“The council did this because the development is located on public lands controlled by the state.
After the WAPC decision, director of Rockingham-based proponent Aureus Pty Ltd, Paul Ogilvie, said only that the announcement was “very good news for the Rockingham area and the boating fraternity”.
He declined to give any details of financial arrangements for the project, when work would begin or if conditions of the approval would affect the $40 million project’s timing or ability to attract funding.
The WAPC approval stipulates the project must be substantially commenced by February 18, 2015 or it would lapse, preventing any further development until a new approval had been granted.
Mr Ogilvie was the director of the marina’s original project manager, Devx Pty Ltd, which went into external administration last July reportedly owing $7.5 million.
Commodore of Rockingham-based Cruising Yacht Club of WA, Steve Gorbould, said while every step towards a marina for Rockingham was a positive one, he would wait and see if it came to fruition before getting too excited.
“It’s another baby step, but we’ve been excited before and let down before,” Mr Gorbould said.