FREO COUNCIL PREFERS BATHERS BEACH FOR SHARK PROTECTION

The City of Fremantle will progress its plan to install a protected swimming area at Bathers Beach, with Council reaffirming the centrally-located beach as its preferred option at a meeting on Wednesday night.

Fremantle Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge said it wasn’t about choosing the busiest or most shark-prone beach, it was about creating a safe place at a currently underutilised beach.

“There are a number of reasons why we see Bathers Beach as a real opportunity. One of the things that’s really clear about enclosed swimming areas is that they attract a lot more people.  So, you’re not catering to the existing beach population, you’re catering to the population of people who currently do not go to the beach and swim.”

Council also received the results of a community engagement survey in which 159 submissions were made.

Parking was identified in the survey as a potential challenge, however Mayor Fitzhardinge welcomed the recent opening of the nearby TAFE carpark to the public on weekends, which will mitigate some of the perceived problems.

City officers will seek the maximum funding available from the state government and submit a proposal for residual costs in the City’s 2024-25 budget.

The City will also seek to formalise an offer from nearby business owners to contribute to the annual maintenance costs of the barrier, and potentially the cost of improving bathroom facilities near the beach.

Officers will also seek budget approval for further investigation of an enclosed swimming area in the river at Harvey Beach, North Fremantle, which has attracted strong community support.

Roel Loopers

DOES FREMANTE REALLY NEED A SHARK ENCLOSURE?

Community engagement has shown that about half of those who engaged with it were not in favour of a shark enclosure at Bathers Beach, so now Fremantle Council will also be investigating a Swan River shark enclosure at Harvey Beach, when already a shark net has been installed just up the river at Bicton Bath.

Both preferred locations have similar problems, of lack of parking, distance to public transport, and no showers, toilets or changeroom facilities.

State Government monitoring the Swan River for sharks has shown no bullshark or any other shark activation in the Swan River, so should Harvey Bay be considered, just because North Fremantle residents want it?

There is quite a bit of parking within easy walking distance from Bathers Beach, at Mews Road, the Esplanade, near the Italian Club, West End streets and the South Mole, the Collie Street carpark, etc, but when events and festivals are on the Esplanade, or the Fishing Boat Harbour, access to Bathers Beach and parking nearby could become an issue. Remember, that the CAT bus no longer comes along Marine Terrace, so the Fremantle train station is the closest public transport, a 10-15 minute walk from Bathers Beach.

Parking at South Beach, Port Beach and Leighton Beach is already a problem that annoys many regular beach goers, so a perfect solution won’t be found, either at Harvey Bay or Bathers Beach.

We have to question if it is really worth the money and effort, even if the State Government would pay for most of it. Is the paranoia about the very few shark attacks along our coast and in the Swan River affecting our State and Local Governments’ rational thinking? Is is not reasonable to accept that there is an extremely minor, and highly unlikely chance, that when one enters the Indian Ocean or Swan River, that one could be attacked by a shark? There are no guarantees in life. Everything we do comes with risks. Nothing is perfect. Maybe we should spend the money for shark enclosures on something far more pressing, such as housing.

The shark enclosure is on the agenda of Wednesday’s Ordinary Council meeting of the City of Fremantle.

Roel Loopers