Transport Minister Rita Saffioti receives letters to fix Jurien Bay marina while residents create banner

After more than a year of petitioning for issues surrounding the Jurien Bay marina to be resolved, a local MLC collected hundreds of letters last week, promising to personally hand them to the Transport Minister. Passionate resident Penelope Normington prepared 250 letters with signatures from Jurien Bay residents, stating the “toxic” marina needed to be repaired. “Every year with the northerly winds, weed comes into the marina because of the incorrect design,” she said. Over a year of raising awareness to replace the marina, Ms Normington said on Monday, Labor Agricultural Region MLC Sandra Carr took notice of the community’s calls to repair the “seaweed trap” that caused fish kills and damage to vessels. “Sandra Carr picked up half of the banners to take to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti. We’ve got them down there in a very public way, hopefully we are heard,” she said. “It makes them feel like our message is getting out there and going somewhere.” More than 10 children collaborated with elderly residents over six months to create an 8m-long banner with the words “Fix Our Marina”, recently displayed at the Jurien Bay Skate Park. Ms Normington said the banner was a “simple act” yet was more empowering than the petition. “Activism through artwork, that’s what I like about it. The kids are learning about the environment and learning they can make change,” she said. The Department of Transport announced they would dredge the marina, but Ms Normington said it wouldn’t solve the marina’s design. “It’s just going to come back in again, it’s a bit of a insult really. The residents aren’t very happy about that,” she said. “They can drench until their hearts content, but it doesn’t solve the problem.” Ms Normington said she wanted to see the pop-up banner displayed at Jurien Bay Sea Rescue and the Fremantle Markets. Ms Carr confirmed she delivered the letters to Ms Saffioti, and wanted to see the best outcome for residents and tourists visiting the Turquoise Coast. “The letters have been given to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti to inform her of community sentiment and their development priorities for their region. The minister’s office will determine their response,” Ms Carr said. “The Shire recently opened the Turquoise Way Hill River Crossing Bridge for which the McGowan Government provided $100,000 as Regional Economic Development grant, so there is a genuine commitment to infrastructure and recreational improvements in the region that enhance tourism opportunities. “Obviously, there are a large number of competing development projects across the State, but I will be continually advocating for the redevelopment of the marina as one of my priorities.”