NEWSLETTER September 2020

Dampier Peninsula Project Connecting Communities | Creating Jobs

July 2020 marked the first year milestone for the Project. While COVID-19 has had an impact, the Project continues to progress with the Dampier Peninsula Working Group holding another two meetings so far in 2020. The is on track to be fully sealed by the end of the year.

2020 brought unexpected challenges but new opportunities in the delivery of the Dampier Peninsula Project. The strong relationship established with the Dampier Peninsula Working Group has enabled government agencies to provide rapid response to issues as they arose and continue to progress the 14 project workstreams.

Another two Dampier Peninsula Working Group meetings have been held since the start of 2020. Working Group members meeting in Broome to plan for key project deliveries in 2020 Due to the social distancing (Photo courtesy of Tiffany Labuc) regulations and travel restrictions for entering remote Aboriginal communities, the May 2020 DPWG meeting was successfully held online over two days.

In June 2020, Working Group members held a two-day workshop to reflect on the first 12 months of the Project and to plan for the next year ahead. The WA Government is proudly committing another 12 months of funding for this group to work alongside nineteen government agencies.

Additionally, the WA Government has recently announced $110.9 million in commitments under the Kimberley Recovery Plan. Of this, more than $50 million has been allocated to infrastructure projects on the Dampier Peninsula, providing more opportunities for local Aboriginal communities and businesses.

Dampier Peninsula Project: 12 month milestones

The Dampier Peninsula Working Group held five meetings within its first 12 months, providing stewardship on 14 self-identified priority action areas.

Secondary roads Future tenure options for a large proportion of the secondary roads will be informed by ongoing discussions with Prescribed Bodies Corporate, led by the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH). Broader community consultation, which is led by Main Roads WA, will recommence soon after being As of July 2020, another 18 km of the road has been sealed, with 70 km to go stalled by COVID-19 restrictions.

Heritage protection help protect these environmental mobile base station, and values. Kooljaman Resort became a Local communities, rangers and successful recipient under round native title holders are working Meanwhile, the Department of 4 of the Mobile Black Spot with DPLH to identify, protect and Primary Industries and Regional program. manage Aboriginal heritage sites Development (DPIRD) has developed a draft Fisheries and places on the Dampier Visitor Management Peninsula which may be at risk Options Paper identifying from increased visitation. potential fisheries management A Dampier Peninsula Visitor Pass options, and is awaiting feedback Options Development – Interim A Dampier Peninsula Protection from local Rangers and others for Report has been developed and Plan for Aboriginal Cultural Sites further discussion. provided to the Working Group for and Places is to be completed by their consideration and feedback. October 2020. Visitor access arrangements are Following this, some funding has Visitor information aligned with discussions led by been set aside for site protection Main Roads WA is collaborating DPLH on Aboriginal Lands Trust measures, such as fencing and with the Working Group and the (ALT) divestment. Further signage for identified at-risk sites. Broome Shire to design and meetings will be scheduled with install cultural, tourist and safety Prescribed Bodies Corporate to information signage. Installation is progress these matters. Environmental protection scheduled to align with the road The Department of Biodiversity, completion in November 2020. Conservation and Attractions has Meanwhile, DPIRD is supporting Community support developed a draft report on the various locations on the Dampier The Department of Communities terrestrial conservation values of Peninsula to upgrade their is leading discussions with the area for the Working Group’s telecommunications community corporation consideration and feedback. infrastructure. Services at representatives and the Working Once finalised as a joint and Lombadina are set Group to ensure families and collaboration, the report will be to be improved with the communities are safe and used to identify mechanisms to installation of a new 4G small cell supported.

The Department is coordinating facilities and infrastructure on the to design a Camping with responses and implementation Dampier Peninsula. Custodians campground and strategies to address a range of The State Government will invest caravan park. Additional funding issues identified during an August $3.9 million to improve the visitor support ($1.64 million) was 2019 workshop, in conjunction experience on the Dampier recently announced for this with local organisations. Peninsula. $2 million has been campground under the Kimberley set aside to upgrade road access Recovery Plan. to two of the most popular At Ardyaloon, Tourism WA has Visitor safety Aboriginal-owned tourism facilitated upgrades to ablution The Road Safety Commission, in destinations on the Dampier facilities, furniture and bollards at Peninsula; Kooljaman Resort and conjunction with the Department the hatchery; is assisting in trail the Ardyaloon hatchery. of Transport, is leading the development, signage and delivery of projects relating to An additional $1.235 million has landscaping; and is providing capacity support for new tour road safety initiatives, marine been set aside by the Kimberley guides. safety and compliance, sea Development Commission (KDC) rescue capabilities, vehicles and and Tourism WA for upgrades to Other Tourism WA-led works licensing compliance, and visitor facilities (toilets, picnic across the Dampier Peninsula emergency management. tables, shade facilities) at the four include undertaking an Some of the initiatives progressed largest communities. The KDC is operational assessment and to date include the Keys 4 Life engaging with community master planning at Kooljaman program to assist young people to corporations to co-design the Resort – which will identify critical obtain their learner permits, and infrastructure proposals, with accommodation expansion preparations for local road safety construction anticipated from late opportunities – and updating the campaigns using local talent, 2020. Ardi Travellers’ guide. delivered through social media and printed materials. Tourism upgrades Skills and enterprise Tourism WA is leading a range of support Day-use facility upgrades tourism projects on the Dampier The Aboriginal Economic A Dampier Peninsula Visitation Peninsula to help prepare local Development unit within DPIRD is and Tourism Infrastructure businesses for the anticipated leading various skills and Assessment report has been increase in visitation and to enterprise support projects as developed and highlights the create more local jobs. part of the Dampier Peninsula need for upgrades to visitor Tourism WA is working with Project. In order to support Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation communities to unlock economic opportunities available through small business and self-employment, $400,000 has been allocated for this project.

Land tenure reform The Dampier Peninsula is a designated bushfire prone area. DPLH is undertaking a Strategic Bushfire Management Plan for the Peninsula, a first of its kind project which may be used as a benchmark for future planning around the State. The Management Plan will assist Aboriginal tourism operators to Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan announced a $3.9 million funding address regulation compliance boost late last year to help communities prepare for the road sealing requirements.

Meanwhile, DPLH held meetings with the four Prescribed Bodies Corporate regarding ALT divestment opportunities in accordance with the WA Government’s election commitment.

ALT divestment will help unlock the Dampier Peninsula’s economic potential for future tourism operations and other development opportunities.

Government coordination The Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC) continues its work across government to ensure projects remain on track, 2019 saw a host of senior delegations visit communities on the Dampier Peninsula to have funding allocated, and align support new opportunities to improve service delivery with broader WA Government priorities and commitments.

For example, DPC is working Waste management Next steps closely with the Complex Task Team: Remote Aboriginal The , in Funding arrangements to support Communities which was consultation with the Department the continued operation of the established within the State of Communities, has engaged Working Group have been Pandemic Coordination Centre in consultants to prepare a Waste extended and additional funding response to COVID-19. Joint Management Strategy for the has been set aside for 2020-21 to collaboration to date includes Dampier Peninsula. Initial continue community engagement co-funding the grading of the desktop analysis is being in the delivery of priority projects. Middle Lagoon access track; conducted with community Meanwhile, the Working Group is supporting the Ardi Tourism stakeholder engagement to Operators to hold a workshop; commence when COVID-19 confirming project priorities for and supporting communities who restrictions permit. 2021, and is finalising the work are seeking exclusion from program and meeting schedule. This project will involve scoping Remote Aboriginal Communities the potential increase in Directions. generated waste from the Another opportunity for cross- anticipated increase in visitation, agency alignment is the the likely key locations for this Would you like more information? $38.9 million announcement to increased waste, and assess Contact us at upgrade essential and municipal potential waste disposal [email protected] services at the four largest solutions. communities (Ardyaloon, Beagle Bay, Djarindjin and Lombadina). This work is led by the

Department of Communities and the Water Corporation.

The Cape Leveque road is on track to be fully sealed by November 2020