Wrecks delay land swap

The College Grove land swap negotiations between the Bunbury City Council and the State Government may be delayed further while the council awaits a report from the WA Museum regarding the shipwreck sites on Koombana Drive.

Picture: The digs on Koombana Drive

The southern side of Koombana Drive has long been earmarked by the council for tourism development including a new visitor information centre.

The land, however, may be protected from development under the Maritime Archaeology Act if the museum archaeologists identify the sites of US whaling ships wrecked in the 1800s.

The council, working with the museum, uncovered the remains of at least two shipwrecks during the recent excavation and will identify which ships were found in a report on the dig.

The land on Koombana Drive was one of several of parcels offered by Regional Development and Lands Minister Brendon Grylls in exchange for environmentally sensitive land in College Grove.

The parcels of land were offered as compensation to make up for loss in sales of bushland in College Grove after the State ruled it should be protected.

The council decided in July it would vie for more from the land swap and gave City of Bunbury chief executive officer Andrew Brien and Bunbury Mayor David Smith authority to negotiate with the State.

Mr Smith has expressed his personal view of the original offer, saying it was not fair or equitable compensation.

He said the council had offered the State a counter offer and expected a response this week.

Mr Brien said the State Government had been kept informed the land may be home to various shipwrecks.

‘‘Once we have a full understanding of the possible restrictions on the land, we can continue to negotiate with the State,’’ he said.

Mr Brien said no decision had been made on the future of the lot and the council would wait until it received a formal report from the WA Maritime Museum before deciding how to proceed.

Bunbury MLA John Castrilli has expressed his disappointment regarding the ‘‘protracted and prolonged’’ negotiations.

‘‘Several ideas have been put forward which aim to protect this important bushlandwhile also offering a financially viable outcome for the City of Bunbury,’’ Mr Castrilli said.