About the Broome Boating Facility Project
Project Background
The development of a new boating facility in Broome has long been considered as essential to address critical safety and access issues. This is particularly associated with boating launch and retrieval, and transfer between vessels and shore. Large tides, strong currents, wind and waves can at times create hazardous conditions at the existing exposed beaches and boat ramps where conditions can change very quickly.
The Shire of Broome and other key stakeholders have been working on solutions to this problem for many years and more recently through the efforts of the Broome Boat Harbour Advisory Group. The Advisory Group comprises representatives from; The Shire of Broome, The Department of Transport, The Yawuru Group CEO, The Kimberley Port Authority, The Kimberley Development Commission and Community boating representatives, through the Broome Fishing Club.
In 2017 the State Government committed funding through the Department of Transport to work with the Broome Community to plan for a new boating facility to improve safety and access. The work of the Boat Harbour Advisory Group has led this planning exercise.
Work to date has been focussed on identifying a suitable location and design for the facility whilst taking into account critical aspects of appropriate maritime design and sensitivities around environmental and heritage matters.
In February 2020 the Advisory Group and its representative agencies and stakeholders endorsed a conceptual design for the proposed boating facility and resolved to undertake broader community consultation to test and refine the proposal.
On the completion of the consultation, further refinement of the concept design and technical work will be undertaken. A Business Plan will then be prepared for government consideration seeking capital funding to deliver the project.
The Proposal
The Development of a smaller boating facility (as opposed to a larger boat harbour) be developed at the location of the existing boat ramps at Entrance Point. (Refer to the preliminary concept design)
The facility is proposed to include a sheltered boat launching facility with up to four ramp lanes and two finger jetties. Investigation is continuing into the possibility of the finger jetties being floating pontoons to improve all tide use and accessibility.
The facility is anticipated to require sheltering arms adjacent to the ramp and a detached offshore breakwater to screen larger waves. These are likely to be constructed from rock but alternative materials and construction methodologies will be explored in the detailed design phase.
The facility is anticipated to have a ramp toe at approximately +0.5m chart datum which will provide close to all tide access for small draft vessels. No capital dredging is anticipated as part of the construction works.
The facility is anticipated to have a capability for passenger transfer for larger non-trailerable boats such as tourist charter vessels, however an upper limit design vessel has not been determined as yet.
The facility is anticipated to have a potential capability for jinkering (removal from the water) of larger vessels (size to be determined) if required for either servicing or hardstanding including during cyclone events.
Trailer parking onsite is approximately 160 bays meeting the Australian Standards guideline.
Additional features will be included with the facility such as public amenities, beach access, landscaping and shelters. Community input and feedback will help define these elements.
The provision of a dedicated access road to the facility (enabling the creation of recreational precinct) from Kavite Road providing separation from the commercial Port operations and improving access to the western coast at Entrance Point.
Project Timeline
2010 - 2013
December 2013
September 2017
January 2018 - February 2019
February 2019-December 2019
December 2019-January 2020
17 March - 15 April 2020
April - June 2020
June 2020 onwards
A special project by
