Official opening of custom-designed jetty on Penguin Island.

20/11/99
Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes today announced the completion of a custom-designed jetty, the final stage of a six-year development plan for one of Western Australia's nature-based tourism treasures - Penguin Island.
At the official opening on the island today, Mrs Edwardes said the new jetty boasted a design that catered for three ferries, as well as numerous other features that would provide visitors to Penguin Island with a safer and more enjoyable outing.
"A top priority for the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) has been the conservation of the environmental values of the island while ensuring visitor access and experience," she said.
"The construction of the new jetty will significantly help in achieving this balance and facilitating the demands of the public and the need for conservation.
"It has been built to exceed established standards and will be able to withstand climatic forces such as extreme winter storms.

"The jetty has also been carefully aligned to eliminate the potential for disturbance to the adjacent seagrasses."
Mrs Edwardes said the new jetty would strengthen the protection of Penguin Island, which had grown in popularity since the inception of the Penguin Experience, a nature-based tourism attraction on the island that allowed visitors to view fairy penguins, which was opened by CALM in 1996.
"Three years later, the island has become a sought after destination with local residents, tourists and school groups alike - making it essential to upgrade and maintain infrastructure both for visitors and the environment," the Minister said.
"Over the past few years, CALM has undertaken several projects on the island including the establishment of a grassed picnic area, a penguin viewing facility and a building that provides facilities and accommodation for researchers and island management staff.
"These developments, along with the composting toilets and boardwalks, have transformed Penguin Island into a world class nature based tourism and recreation destination.
"Penguin Island can adequately cater for increased numbers of visitors whilst also providing greatly enhanced management for nature conservation.
"The net effect is that significantly more visitors to the island are now having less environmental impact than was the case 10 years ago.
"This fact is illustrated by the recent arrival of a colony of Australian pelicans which have made Penguin Island their home and are now breeding successfully on the northern plateau of the island - a previously unrecorded phenomenon."
Mrs Edwardes said future development projects on the island would focus on resurfacing the remaining two walkways that crossed the island from east to west and the upgrading of look-outs.
"These works will complete a network of walkways and raised boardwalks that provide visitors with low impact access to the main public use areas of the island," she said.
Mrs Edwardes said the co-operation of Penguin and Seal Island Cruises in the jetty changeover times was to be commended.
"Likewise, CALM would also like to acknowledge the design and contract management services provided by engineers M P Rogers and Associates (particularly Brad Saunders) and the dedication and high standard of workmanship delivered by the builder of the jetty, Alan Warnock and his team from Jetty Constructions and Murray River Barge Service," she said.
"Special recognition must also be given to CALM's Penguin Island Ranger Murray Banks for his work and dedication."
Media contacts:
Ministerial - Carol Cowling on 9421 777
CALM - Peter Dans on 9432 511