Marine Sand Proposal Sparks Concern Among Residents Over Lack of Consultation

A proposed marine sand sourcing operation in Western Australia’s Kimberley region has drawn opposition from local community members concerned about insufficient consultation and potential environmental impacts.

Boskalis Australia, a subsidiary of the Netherlands-based maritime services company, is seeking to develop the Cambridge Gulf Marine Sand Proposal, which would involve dredging up to 70 million cubic metres of sand from the central part of Cambridge Gulf for export to Asian construction markets.

The project received conditional approval from the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) late last year and covers an operational area of approximately 100 square kilometres in the East Kimberley, about 3,000 kilometres from Perth.

Community members, including Kununurra-raised fisher Brad Pasfield, have expressed concern that the proponent’s engagement efforts have been inadequate, despite holding public meetings in Kununurra and Wyndham this month as part of its “ongoing consultation process.”

“I think people are just really passionate, and people don’t care about what money is involved. people care about the broader picture,” Pasfield said. “It’s what’s going to happen in the future … the potential damages on the environment. It’s just too close to home. We live up here to escape things like this.”

The EPA has stated it will conduct targeted consultation with commercial and recreational fishers as part of its assessment, with EPA Chair Darren Walsh noting the need to understand potential impacts on licensed fishing grounds and coastal processes.

The agency also highlighted that Cambridge Gulf is identified as a biologically important area for flatback turtle nesting and for calving, foraging, and resting of the Australian snubfin dolphin, indicating the assessment will examine underwater noise and artificial light impacts on marine fauna during key ecological periods.

The appeal period on the project closed in December, and the Appeals Convenor is expected to submit recommendations to the WA environment minister this year.