Local planning scheme amendment for MG Kailis fishing village open for public comment

Plans for a tourist fishing village on the pristine Exmouth Gulf have moved forward with a scheme amendment to allow the site to be used for tourism available for public comment.

The proposed Kailis tourist fishing village, would be located at the former Kailis prawn processing facility also known as K-Town, sits about 20km south of the Exmouth town centre at the intersection of Minilya-Exmouth Road and Charles Knife Road.

The village, which covers an area of about 28 hectares, was developed in the 1970s to accommodate the former Kailis prawn processing facility.

It is proposed to have a mixture of accommodation options including standard tent and caravan site, as well as glamping options and residential park homes.

The village is also expected to have a cafe and a self-serve fuel facility.

The Pilbara News revealed last October that the Shire of Exmouth had provided in-principle support for the development and requested that MG Kailis Group provide further information, including an acoustic assessment, site and soil report.

At the time, MG Kailis Group executive chairman George Kailis said there was a current need for a new tourist node in Exmouth.

“Exmouth is full and our site is empty,” he said.

Dr Kailis said the site used to be zoned for other activities, including aquaculture, a caravan park and a cafe.

The scheme amendment was then approved by council in April subject to 13 conditions.

The conditions include ensuring the development results in sustainable foreshore management and coastal hazard mitigation, submission of a precinct structure plan for approval and the development not exceeding two storeys in height above natural ground level.

Public submissions for the scheme amendment will close on October 17.