New Jervoise Bay Project Office to be established in Fremantle

23/4/98

A new Jervoise Bay Project Office to be established in Fremantle by the Department of Commerce and Trade will improve public and industry access to information about the proposed marine industrial complex.

Commerce and Trade Minister Hendy Cowan said the office would help meet the Government's commitment to ongoing public consultation as well as increasing local awareness of the project and the opportunities it presents.

"This project offers Western Australia an unparalleled opportunity to win sustainable benefits from the development of our mineral and energy resources, by creating opportunities for employment, exports and the acquisition of new technology," Mr Cowan said.

"The Jervoise Bay complex will be much more than a construction site for major exploration and processing equipment and ship conversion. It will include facilities for education, training and research and development.

"Of course, the proposal will not proceed unless it has met environmental and heritage requirements and has been able to attract sufficient interest from major investors."

Mr Cowan said the project team based at the central Fremantle office would be responsible for:

·         providing details of the project and information about its status as part of an ongoing public consultation process;

·         addressing issues identified by the Public Environmental Review of the project and responding to public submissions to the review;

·         progressing the project proposal through all relevant local government, State Government and Commonwealth Government processes; and -

·         advising WA industry of opportunities to participate in the project and of opportunities it creates for supplying major resources and energy development projects.

Mr Cowan said the project director would be Mr Bruce Sutherland, of Gunn Sutherland Corporate Pty Ltd, who was selected after a public application process. Mr Sutherland has wide experience in business and government.

Staff include:

Mr Denis Pickett, an officer of the Department of Commerce and Trade, who has worked extensively on the Jervoise Bay project and in supporting the development of a world-class shipbuilding industry there;

Mr John Silla, of LandCorp, who has had a long involvement with industrial land development around Jervoise Bay; and -

Mr Tom Grigson, from the Department of Resources Development, who has wide experience in heavy engineering projects.

Additional staff will be engaged as required, both from relevant government agencies and through specialist contracts.

South Metropolitan Region MLC Barbara Scott has welcomed the establishment of the office, saying that it would meet local demand for a central contact point for the Jervoise Bay project.

"It will allow people who want to know more about the project, or who have a particular interest or concern, to obtain accurate and detailed information," she said.

"I would urge people to make contact with the office when it is up and running."

Mr Cowan said the address and contact details for the Commerce and Trade Jervoise Bay Project Office, Fremantle, would be advertised widely after the project team had moved in later this month.

Media contact: Peter Jackson 9222 9595