Ocean Reef Marina

DevelopmentWA

2020 - 2024

Issues Management, Stakeholder & Community Engagement, Strategic Communications, Writing

A $272 million State Significant project, Ocean Reef Marina began construction in 2020, with civil works anticipated to be completed by 2030. The full marina build out will not be complete until at least 2036. Such a significant project, being delivered over more than a decade, and requiring extensive earthworks in one of the windiest coastal environments in the Perth metropolitan area made this a challenging project for the contractors and DevelopmentWA.

The Challenge

Managing construction impacts was critical to the smooth delivery of the project.

A key part of this was the project’s commitment to keeping adjacent residents and other key stakeholders informed about construction works and the ways in which their impacts were being managed.

The Method

Stakeholder mapping, risk analysis and social impact analysis undertaken early in the project to inform the development of a Stakeholder and Community Engagement Plan.
Online platform (separate to project page on DevelopmentWA’s main website) regularly updated with information about construction activities.
24/7 Project Information line and dedicated project email address managed by Louise Richardson and Associates.
Adjacent residents and other key stakeholders kept informed about construction works with letterbox drops, Construction Updates, on site signage, face to face briefings and web updates.
Strong working relationship between Operations Team at DevelopmentWA, the contractor on site, and Louise Richardson as the community relations advisor.
Construction Updates printed and regularly distributed to over 1,000 households.
Ongoing monitoring of issues and development of mitigation strategies as required.

The Outcome

While responding to concerns about construction impacts was resource intensive at the start, it laid a foundation for community understanding of how the works were being undertaken, the efforts that were being made to mitigate impacts, and the world class marina that the works would deliver.

As works progressed community understanding of how the project was working hard to manage construction impacts improved, and excitement about the project grew.

As the project gradually started to take shape, every opportunity was taken to celebrate project milestones with the community. This included activities such as school incursions and excursions, and a collaboration with art students to use the project as their inspiration for their Year 11 art portfolios.