West End progress is 'dying'

A Hedland small business owner claims the town's historic heart in the West End is "dying" and attacked the local chamber of commerce and BHP Billiton for not doing enough to support the area.

West End dental practice owner and Port Hedland Chamber of Commerce committee member Roger Higgins said he was worried small businesses could close down in the historic district, leaving behind a series of derelict buildings.

He claimed business confidence had been sapped because resources companies, such as BHP, publicly opposed development so close to the town's iron ore port.

However, BHP rejected the accusation, saying it did support commercial development in the West End and had invested $10 million to help businesses and cultural projects in the area.

Mr Higgins claimed the area needed a game-changing investment.

"My eyes were opened one day when I went out (as a guest) on a tugboat and I looked along the (West End and coastal) foreshore," he said.

"From out there as you come in, (Hedland) looks like a bunch of beach shacks.

"What you have not got is a presence that presents itself as a port of the world standing that it is."

Mr Higgins' attack comes as the Town of Port Hedland is pushing ahead with plans to build a multi-million dollar marina and waterfront development on the West End's eastern edge at the Spoilbank.

Supporters claim the development, with its public spaces and retail and bar district, could transform Hedland from a dusty town into a place people will want to live in once the mining industry has faded.

Mr Higgins said it would not only transform the lifestyle of residents, but also the fortunes of small business.

"(Premier) Colin Barnett recently said at a function at Jan Ford's place, which is in Kingsmill Street, how good is this view," he said.

"Everyone recognises that it is a place where people would want to be.

"It should be an area where high-density residential development is encouraged, not discouraged, because you will then get the sort of thing that is happening in Pelago (in Karratha)."

"(Down there) you've got high-density, high-rise living and a whole bunch of businesses and bars that support people to live there."

However, the Spoilbank marina has also faced fierce opposition. Government planners recently proposed to scrap plans for an apartment and hotel complex on the site after the resources industry opposed intensive residential development in the West End.

The industry believes increased residential development could lead to land-use conflicts with iron ore operations at the nearby port.

Its supporters question why anyone would risk the profitability of one of the nation's most important pieces of infrastructure, which generates local jobs and large sums for the economy.

But Mr Higgins said the industry was being cynical.

He said development and the port could co-exist and claimed BHP's public opposition was crushing business confidence in the West End.

He also claimed BHP owned a number of unoccupied properties in the West End, which it had allowed to remain unproductive, rather than use to help create a vibrant business environment.

BHP rejected Mr Higgins' accusations, saying a significant proportion of their West End land holding were in productive use.

A company spokeswoman said while it did not support intensive residential development, it did support commercial and cultural development in the West End.

"Over the last eight years, BHP Billiton has invested $10 million on projects in the West End from the Wedge Street streetscape improvements to ongoing cleaning programs," she said.

"(The company has also provided) financial support for the West End markets and outdoor cinema, the Visitor Centre, the Courthouse Gallery and the Hedland Art Awards."

"In addition, the company's land holdings continue to support a range of local businesses and community uses - including the Silverstar, Harbour Cafe, Marapikurrinya Park, Port Hedland Medical Centre, car parking adjacent to the Westpac Bank, amongst others."

The spokeswoman also called on Government planners to end confusion in the West End by introducing policies that would resolve potential land-use conflicts in the West End.

"We would encourage the relevant planning authorities to introduce proper planning controls … which, in turn, will provide BHP Billiton and the whole of the business community with confidence to invest in the West End," she said.