A Department of Transport spokesperson maintains the volume of seagrass wrack built up at Port Geographe is currently appropriate despite pleas to have it removed.
Seagrass wrack built up on the western side of the groyne has created an odour and covered the beach up to heights of 12-feet at the water’s edge.
The DoT are responsible for intervening when wrack built up around Port Geographe exceeded 60,000m3, as required in its Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan.
Calls have been made to reduce the threshold to 10,000m3 which would then trigger a response from the DoT.
Vasse MLA Libby Mettam has written to the Transport Minister Rita Saffioti for the third time calling for an amendment to the EMMP to reduce the trigger for intervention.
Ms Mettam said if the seagrass was pulled back onto the beach it would likely be a one-off exercise and would not disrupt the groyne reconfiguration.
“Whilst it is not unusual to see some build-up of seaweed in winter, what we are seeing along Geographe Bay at the moment is much more significant,” she said.
“It is of some concern given it could potentially hamper the investment in the Port Geographe reconfiguration project.
“I have now written to the Minister for Transport for the third time on this matter, encouraging the DoT to shift some of the seaweed as a temporary one-off measure, to allow the shift and the new coastline to take shape as a result of the Port Geographe reconfiguration project.
“Apart from the immediate issues concerning the impact of amenity of the seagrass, it was also prohibiting the sand from filling the Western Beach, which is limiting the potential of the Port Geographe reconfiguration project to adjust to the new equilibrium.”
DoT coastal infrastructure general manager Steve Jenkins said they were satisfied the thresholds in the plan were currently appropriate against the risks of environmental impacts from wrack accumulation.
“There are no plans to remove seagrass wrack unless it exceeds these thresholds,” he said.
The DoT are responsible for maintaining Port Geographe and developed the EMMP with the Environmental Protection Authority to minimise environmental and health impacts.
Mr Jenkins said the EMMP included two thresholds for seagrass wrack, one for volume and another for odour, if the threshold of wrack exceeded a volume of 60,000m3 then the DoT would start contingency works.
“Port Geographe’s location and exposure to large quantities of seagrass provided challenges in maintaining a functional boating facility while avoiding the potential for environmental harm,” he said.
“To manage this, the DoT undertakes seagrass wrack management in accordance with the EMMP.
“Since the works associated with the Port Geographe reconfiguration project were completed in 2015, both wrack volume and odour remain below the thresholds that would trigger a management response by DoT.
“DoT is satisfied that the EMMP thresholds are currently appropriate against the risk of environmental impacts from wrack accumulation and there are no plans to remove seagrass wrack unless it exceeds these thresholds.”
Mr Jenkins said the DoT continued to regularly monitor the Port Geographe coast through site inspections, surveying and photography.
In December last year, the DoT gave approval for the City of Busselton to engage a contractor to redistribute a portion of the seagrass wrack after safety concerns about the accumulation were raised by residents.
The city were contacted for comment but did not respond by the time of publication.
Concerns relating to beach amenity should be directed to the city on 9781 0444. Specific concerns about odour and long-term management about accumulation should be directed to the DoT.
