“The seagrass will potentially be used for agricultural or viticultural purposes and its removal will come as good news to local residents who have been concerned about odour impacts,” the Minister for Environment, Donna Faragher said.

Vasse MLA Troy Buswell, who had made the suggestion to move the seaweed inland, welcomed the decision.

“We had been pushing for some time for a positive step forward and moving seaweed from the beach will address one of the issues,” he said. “But a lot more work still needs to be done.”

Mrs Faragher said 75 per cent of the seagrass would be utilised, while the remaining seagrass wrack would remain as habitat for birds and to prevent erosion.

She said that in winter up to 100,000m3 of seagrass and sand accumulated on the western breakwater at Port Geographe from decomposing seagrass.

Seagrass and sand bypassing works in late spring created noise, dust and odour issues.

In 2006, the developer of the Port Geographe canal development prepared a ‘Four Year Works Program’ to manage amenity, noise, odour and complaints from sand and seagrass bypassing. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure (DPI) and the Shire of Busselton approved the program, which concludes at the end of this year.

“The developer has proposed a two-year trial of seagrass wrack harvesting,” Mrs Faragher said.

“I am supportive of this proposal and consider that it will assist in improving local air quality and reducing odour emissions currently being experienced by the local community.”

A seagrass and sand movement study in Geographe Bay being undertaken by DPI, through The University of Western Australia, is due for completion in January.

The results of the study will provide base data upon which long-term options for the locality can be prepared.

“Resolution of these issues is a complex and difficult issue and the seagrass and sand movement study is required to consider viable options for a long term solution,” Mrs Faragher said.

Planning Minister John Day has established a consultative forum to improve community involvement in managing these issues. The forum is chaired by South West MLC Barry House.