Rockingham mayor to head Port Kennedy development board

17/8/93

Rockingham City Council mayor Laurie Smith has been appointed chairman of a special board of management which will oversee the Port Kennedy golf course and marina development south of Perth.

Councillor Smith, who has been mayor for the past six years, will head the newly-created nine-member board, which will be responsible for advising the State Government on the development and management of the tourist resort.

Announcing the appointment today, Planning Minister Richard Lewis said Councillor Smith's long and distinguished association with the City of Rockingham made him an obvious choice as chairman.

"Councillor Smith has been an active and highly respected member of the Rockingham community for more than 20 years," Mr Lewis said.

"He has the experience and the local knowledge to make sure the project developers comply with the environmental and land use conditions set down for the development."

Mr Lewis said the Port Kennedy Management Board would perform a similar role to the Rottnest Island Board in providing advice to the Government on the appropriate management of the resort.

Plans for the redevelopment of Port Kennedy include a marina, a town centre, two 18-hole golf courses, 240 holiday units and a 225-room hotel.

Under the Port Kennedy Development Agreement Act, which was ratified by State Parliament last year, the State Government agreed to grant 25 hectares of freehold land to Fleuris Pty Ltd in exchange for the development.

Mr Lewis said the board would oversee conditions set down by the Environmental Protection Authority in granting approval for the project and the exchange of the freehold land as the development progressed.

Other members of the board announced today include: Dr Phillip Jennings, vice president of the Conservation Council of WA; Mr Rick Palmer, president of the Rockingham Chamber of Commerce; Mr Dennis Millan, from the Department of Land Administration; Mr Richard Lukin and Mr Gary Sheehan from Fleuris Pty Ltd; Mr John Lilburne from the Fisheries Department and Mr Alan Walker, Swan regional manager with the Department of Conservation and Land Management.

A further appointment from the Port Kennedy land conservation district committee is still being finalised.

Members of the board have been appointed for terms ranging from three years to 12 months.

Media contact: Paul Plowman 222 9595 : 221 1377