CANNING MHR Andrew Hastie has taken a swipe at a developer proposing a Point Grey marina, saying a company with no stake in the community should not be able to dredge our waterways.
Tian An Australia, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed Tian An China, has plans for a 300-berth marina, retail and tourist facilities, a primary school and extensive open space at Point Grey, plus a housing estate. It would require dredging a 2.5km channel across the Peel-Harvey Estuary.
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“The concerns of our local community must be heard,” Mr Hastie said.
He said we are called to steward our natural assets and where necessary to protect them from those who would damage or destroy them.
“We are all stewards of the beautiful Peel Harvey Estuary a body of water larger then Sydney Harbour, teaming with marine life and brimming with natural beauty.
“We are therefore, through our local government, are sovereign over this natural asset and should have a say about how development takes place.
“We are not anti-progress, but are rightly cautions about development as we are the ones most affected by it.”
Mr Hastie quoted locals opposed to the proposed marina and dredging, such as Mandurah Licensed Fiserhman’s Association president Damien Bell and indigenous elders.
Mr Hastie’s comments were the second strong stand against Chinese investment in a month.
In August, he was rebuked by members of both sides of politics – as well as a group of big miners – for comments that likened the world’s approach to handling China to the “catastrophic failure” to prevent the rise of Nazi Germany.
Writing an opinion piece, Mr Hastie said Australia must hold on to “our sovereignty and prosperity”.
After a flurry of criticism, including China’s Australian Embassy, Prime Minister Scott Morrison tried to downplay the comments, saying they were nothing more than the remarks of a “member of the backbench”.
A Shire of Murray decision to knock back stage one of the Point Grey marina development will be contested in the State Administrative Tribunal next month. Tian An Australia did not respond to requests for comment.