Floating Jetty Development Devastates Broome’s Reef: Concerns Over Environmental Impact and Whale Strandings
Image credit: Sharm Donnelly, Yinarra (Entrance Point) Reef, Jirr-Ngin-Ngan (Broome) Western Australia, 2025.
The Yawuru PBC-approved floating jetty development at Yinarra (Entrance Point) has sparked outrage among environmentalists, Djukun Traditional Owners, and Broome locals, as alarming consequences emerge from the ongoing construction.
The Djukun were not consulted about the project when it was approved by the Yawuru PBC, raising significant concerns about cultural and environmental oversight.
Last week, Djukun Traditional Owners raised concerns over the floating jetty project’s impact on the reef and a recent mass stranding of 10 melon-headed whales. The hammering of pylons into the reef has reportedly led to widespread coral deterioration and the die-off of once-thriving marine ecosystems.
Broome local and reef researcher Sharm Donnelly, who has studied the area for 7 years, expressed deep concern over her findings:
"These pylons have been smashed into what was once one of the most diverse parts of the reef system at Entrance Point. There were so many different species of both soft and hard corals in this area… The reef looks dead, so much marine life has died within a few months. I didn’t see much life at all."
Image credit: Dianne Bennett, Yinarra reef, Broome Western Australia.
Sharm reported a mass coral bleaching event, widespread death of sea anemones and ascidians, and the loss of crucial nursery grounds for fish, crabs, mollusca, and other marine species. Her recent photos highlight the stark transformation of what was once a vibrant marine habitat.
Over the weekend, the devastation took a dramatic turn with the sudden collapse of Yinarra Cliff into the ocean. Upon visiting the site, Djukun representatives and Goolarabooloo Traditional Owner Jason Nangan Roe inspected the environmental damage. Mr Roe noted that it would have required significant force for such a heavy cliff to suddenly collapse and raised concerns about the vibrations caused by pile-driving activities. Mr Roe was critical of recent reports that a weather event caused the sudden collapse. Nearby just a few hundred meters away etched in the Broome sandstone is 130-million-year-old dinosaur footprints. Dinosaur footprints that hold great cultural significance to the Djukun and Goolarabooloo people. The sudden collapse of the sandstone cliff has prompted calls for a stop-work order to allow for an inspection of the Aboriginal heritage-listed area by authorities.
Image credit supplied: Jason Nangan Roe inspecting the Yinarra (Entrance Point) cliff collapse, Broome Western Australia, 2025.
Adding to these environmental concerns is the stranding of 10 melon-headed whales in Broome last week. The Djukun Nation has called on Divina D’Anna MLA for the Kimberley region to investigate whether the extreme noise from pile driving during the jetty’s construction may have disoriented the whales and contributed to the tragic event. As of publication, Ms. D’Anna has not replied to the Djukun Nation at the time of this publication.
Djukun Elder, 83-year-old Fabian Nasir has demanded immediate action:
"The sandstone, the reef and the marine life it supports are vital to our culture and environment. We are calling on the Yawuru PBC and the government to halt construction until a full investigation into the environmental damage is carried out."
Image credit: Sharm Donnelly, Yinarra (Entrance Point) Reef, Jirr-Ngin-Ngan (Broome) Western Australia, 2025.
The floating jetty project, intended as a $200 million development to boost tourism and create infrastructure for extractive industries such as oil and gas, is now under scrutiny for its lack of adequate environmental oversight. Critics argue that the Djukun Traditional Owners were not meaningfully consulted about the potential long-term impacts on the reef system and local marine life.
The Djukun Nation is urging all stakeholders to prioritise environmental conservation over commercial interests. They are calling on residents and concerned individuals to join the push for accountability and action to protect Broome’s fragile ecosystems.
For updates and ways to support the call for environmental justice, stay connected with the Djukun Nation’s campaign to protect their country and heritage.
Image credit: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/eugy.dumont/videos/1111238894070735/
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