Shire still keen on abalone farm
ESPERANCE’S local native title group is partnering with two abalone farming companies in an ambitious endeavour to create a world-leading aquaculture precinct at Bandy Creek.
Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Peter Bednall said if successful, the precinct had the potential to generate approximately 200 new local jobs, bring more than $200m in direct investment into Esperance and create multiple aquaculture enterprise opportunities.
“Lot 50, currently owned by the Shire of Esperance, is an important part of the precinct proposal,” he said.
ETNTAC is seeking to purchase 34ha of Shire land on Wylie Bay.
The Shire has leased the site to private interests trying to establish an abalone farm since 2019.
Council voted to grant ETNTAC a two-year option to purchase the land.
While ETNTAC does not have to pay for the option to purchase, the price will be $500,000 if the sale goes ahead, and the Shire of Esperance must be satisfied that development of the proposed aquaculture precinct will proceed.
“It is the responsibility of ETNTAC to provide the evidence required to satisfy the Shire of Esperance of this,” the minutes state.
The Shire also reserved the right to buy the land back for the same price if ETNTAC decided to sell it.
Shire president Ron Chambers said there had been a long-term project to get an aquaculture precinct on the southern portion of Lot 50 Wylie Bay Road.
“There’s a couple of different organisations now that are looking at doing that,” he said.
“There’s a partnership proposal as well between the local Tjaltjraak Corporation looking to acquire the land and then to lease that land to aquaculture and create an aquaculture precinct in that area.
“That land would be used for abalone hatchery pumping systems and possibly some of the abalone grow-out processes that they’re looking at doing.”
Mr Chambers said the previous lessee, Rare Foods Australia, had completed its feasibility study and decided not to renew its lease.
“There was little point in doing the lease, going forward, because there’s no need for access to that land,” he said.
“For them to do that just adds cost to the project, whereas an option to purchase still gives them the security around having access to the land and (they would) still be able to progress the project.”
Tiny houses for Ravy
IN a bid to ease an acute housing shortage, Ravensthorpe is to become the third WA Shire to allow tiny houses on wheels.
On Tuesday, Council voted to adopt a draft planning policy based on the one Esperance Shire passed in December 2022.
The policy had been open for public comment since last year, but Shire president Tom Major said the Shire had received no comment.
Council then voted to adopt a planning policy for chalet-style developments which had also been open for public comment.
Both motions passed without discussion.
School students evacuated after Pink Lake bushfire
ESPERANCE Senior High School students were evacuated after a bushfire ignited near the school on Tuesday afternoon.
A Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) alert said the fire started near the intersection of Connolly St and Cherry Well Rd in Pink Lake, and was reported at 1.18pm on February 13.
By the time the Weekender attended, students were seen walking in large numbers and being directed towards the Esperance Indoor Stadium at the Greater Sports Ground.
The stadium became the designated point for parents to pick up their children, according to the Shire of Esperance.
Senior sergeant Chris Taylor said Esperance Police officers were doing traffic control in the area on Tuesday.
Pink Lake Road from Downes Street to Rowse Street, and Connolly Street from Twilight Beach Road to Pink Lake Road, were closed on the day, the DFES alert stated.
It also said six hectares had been burnt, and the alert level was downgraded when the fire was contained by Wednesday morning.
The fire and one south of it are being investigated for possible arson.
Kids arrested for bushfire
ESPERANCE Detectives have arrested three Esperance Senior High School students for their alleged involvement with the bushfires surrounding the school, Senior sergeant Chris Taylor says.
He said they have charged a 13-year-old girl for the Pink Lake Road fire in Sinclair on February 13.
He said Detectives charged the girl with one count of Breach of Duty Under Section 444A and she was due to appear before the Esperance Children’s Court on Wednesday.
The Weekender understands under Section 444A, a person who is in control of a source of ignition or a fire has a duty to use reasonable care and take reasonable precautions to avoid it destroying or causing damage to property.
A breach of this duty is punishable by a maximum penalty of imprisonment for 15 years.
Snr Sgt Taylor said two boys aged 13 and 14 had been referred to the Juvenile Justice Team.
Detective sergeant Wayne Davies said the accused were “f***ing around with matches by making little fires on bits and pieces, around the bushland area just outside the school’s fence”.
“One of the fires got out of control,” he said.
Sgt Davies said since they were three of the only kids who had not been in school that day, it led the Detectives to believe that they may be the accused.
Last week, a WA Police Media officer said Esperance Detectives were investigating the “suspicious” bushfires, with rewards of up to $25,000 available for information leading to an arsonist’s identification and conviction.
They said the first fire occurred at around 1.30pm on February 13, in bushland between Doug Murray Drive and Connolly Street in Pink Lake
Pelican starts bushfire
A pelican started a bushfire in Woody Lake Nature reserve, a local resident says.
A Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions spokesperson said a bird strike on Fisheries Road powerlines started the fire but did not confirm the species involved.
Power failed briefly at the Ladies’ Day race meeting at the nearby Esperance Turf Club track.
A Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesperson said instances of birds flying into powerlines and starting bushfires were rare but “do happen very occasionally”.
“Out of the 5,922 bushfires reported to DFES across the State in 2023, only six were deemed to have likely been started by animals,” she said.
The DBCA spokesperson said local bushfire brigades, DBCA, and DFES personnel helped contain the nature reserve bushfire.
Shire bid to house workers
ESPERANCE Shire is seeking more than $6million from the State Government to build housing for workers.
Shire president Ron Chambers said a Shire accommodation and land study showed a need for a critical worker accommodation within Esperance.
“We’re hoping to design and build the accommodation so that it can be used as worker accommodation, but can also be easily repurposed when that is not required any further,” he said.
Shire chief executive Shane Burge said the facility would mostly be for low-level key workers such as aged care workers, childcare workers, and possibly Shire workers.
“Those sorts of people are finding it really difficult to pay high rents, but are critical to our running our community,” he said.
“We’re looking at about 20 units of worker accommodation.
“Timeframes around the project are uncertain at this point, depending upon if the state provide us the money for the project.”
Fingers crossed for new mine
NEXT year about 50 construction workers will be preparing a new mine near Hopetoun, if International Graphite (IG6 Ltd) decides to proceed with its plans.
By 2026 the mine would then employ mostly local people for at least 15 years and likely more than 30, according to CEO Andrew Worland.
“There is nothing at the Springdale Mine that would be unusual in Ravensthorpe, so the skillsets that apply generally in mining would be completely relevant,” he said.
“I anticipate the vast majority of the workforce would be sourced locally, in the local area.
“We are looking at 40-50 on site in rosters: deep mine on day shift, processing around the clock and port staff on day shift, so I anticipate recruiting a considerable number
in the local community.”
Mr Worland said the final product would be delivered directly into the anode of a lithium ion battery, which is a key component of an electric vehicle.
“Electric vehicles globally sell about 15 million units per year and projections are that it will increase to 40-50 million by 2035, which will require a significant amount of raw materials,” he said.
“So graphite is going to be really important for the future — anodes are part of the battery.”
Mr Worland said the Springdale deposit was unusual for several reasons.
“It is almost entirely a fine flake deposit and perfectly suited to a battery anode material,” he said.
“It’s a very solid grade by any peer comparison standards, and to be able to have a mine of 10 per cent and above of that grade in the ore body sets us apart from many.”
Secondly, Mr Worland said their exploration had “only scratched the surface” so far.
