OVERCAST weather could not dampen the spirits of people celebrating the Augusta Boat Harbour’s official opening on Friday.
The happy crowd was largely comprised of Augusta residents who were quick to don blue souvenir hats and line up for boat tours of the site.
Regional development minister Terry Redman said the $36.4 million project ticked all the regional boxes while providing economic and social benefits to local residents.
“This stuff doesn’t happen down here very often,” he said.
“For these people, to have something like this in their town - it’s often in the realm of dreams,” Mr Redman said.
“It makes us so bloody proud to support it.”
Premier Colin Barnett said the harbour would provide a much-needed safe haven for vessels navigating the rugged coastline between Albany and Busselton.
“About 30 per cent of the state’s regional recreational boating fleet is based in the South West,” Mr Barnett said.
“That is likely to grow from 13,000 to more than 22,000 boats over the next 15 years.”
The new facility will also support the region’s commercial and tourism fleet, including boats used for whale watching, and provide a base for sea search and rescue operations.
Shire of Augusta Margaret River president Mike Smart said the new harbour meant the removal of boats from 'the protected and very beautiful' swimming areas of Flinders Bay.
Mr Smart thanked the Shire presidents before him who contributed to the project as well as the Shire itself, State Government, site supervisor Peter Walker and all the contractors involved.
“I was blown away,” Mr Smart said of the harbour’s quality finish.
The South West Development Commission and Augusta resident Bill Shepherd were also recognised.
Construction of the harbour began in 2011. It now includes a four-lane boat launching facility, floating finger jetties and 40 boat pens.
The project was funded with $34.6 million from Royalties for Regions and $1.87 million from the Maritime Facilities Program and the Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme.
Friday’s opening ceremony included a welcome to the country speech by members of the Wardandi community and ‘My Island Home’ performed by Augusta Primary School students.
