The City of Fremantle is constructing temporary coastal protection at Port Beach to protect buildings and facilities from further erosion.
The first major storms of the winter season caused significant erosion at the beach earlier this month, undermining sections of footpath and the southern car park and threatening the change rooms and Fremantle Surf Lifesaving Club annex.
Last week the City moved sand from further up the beach and placed it in front of the change rooms, surf club annex and the Coast restaurant to provide temporary protection in the event of further storms.
In recent days the City has placed more sand in front of the restaurant and rocks in front of the change rooms where the worst erosion occurred.
The rocks can be removed and re-used once longer term management options have been determined.
More stormy weather is forecast for later in the week. The City will continue to monitor the situation and move more sand in front of vulnerable assets as required.
Discussions are continuing with the state government about further interim protection measures.
Access to Port Beach and Sandtrax beach remains closed. The bituminised area in front of the change rooms and parts of the southern car park are also closed. Beachgoers are asked to respect the warning signs and stay out of areas that are fenced off.
Port Beach has been the subject of a number of erosion events in recent years.
During 2016 and 2017 the City of Fremantle – in partnership with the Town of Mosman Park and the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage – undertook a Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Planning (CHRMAP) process to assess the vulnerability of the coastline along Port, Leighton and Mosman beaches.
The City and Fremantle Ports are currently investigating a range of long-term erosion adaptation options at Port Beach using funding from a state government Coastal Adaptation and Protection grant.
A draft report providing long-term options to manage the erosion risk at Port Beach is expected to be released for public comment next month.
