The City of Cockburn is taking proactive measures to combat the severe sand erosion on C.Y. O'Connor Beach, a beloved coastal destination. The council has temporarily closed the beach on weekdays during restoration work, which will last until March 3rd. This decision was prompted by the alarming erosion in the northern section of the beach, exacerbated by wave action and strong sea breezes. The situation has become so critical that the beach has been labeled an 'erosion hot-spot', losing over 50 meters of shoreline in the past two decades.
To address this issue, MCS Civil will undertake a meticulous process of removing excess sand from the dune vegetation, followed by sand nourishment and beach restoration. The scale of the project is significant, with approximately 20,000 cubic meters of sand having eroded from the northern side of Catherine Point Groyne. The city's contractor is currently back-passing sand from the accumulation zone, using excavators and trucks, in an effort to replenish the beach.
The City of Cockburn has been proactive in tackling coastal erosion, installing an artificial reef off the beach in March 2022. This innovative solution, funded by the city and a $600,000 grant from the Coastal and Estuarine Risk Mitigation program, has shown promising results. The reef, which doubled in size in 2024, is now a thriving habitat, supporting 57 fish species and 56 non-fish species. The growth of marine flora and seaweed on the concrete bombora modules is expected to further reduce wave energy, enhancing the reef's effectiveness.
Despite the encouraging progress, the city's sustainability manager, Rory Garven, emphasizes that the reef's long-term effectiveness will be determined by the University of Western Australia's multi-year monitoring program. The City of Cockburn allocates an annual budget of $590,000 for sand nourishment and beach re-profiling along its coastline, which includes C.Y. O'Connor Beach, Coogee, and Ngarkal Beach. The total cost for these works varies depending on factors such as erosion extent, sand extraction methods, and contractor availability.
Looking ahead, the city is developing an updated Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan to better manage its coastline development and risks. This plan will incorporate community consultations and recommendations, with a pop-up meeting scheduled for March 21st near Coogee Beach Cafe. The meeting will focus on current coastal hazards, the vulnerability of coastal assets, and future changes in these hazards.
In addition to these restoration efforts, the city is also making strides in other areas. A recent development in the search for the Mullewa gunman has yielded a significant breakthrough, with police finding a vehicle linked to the case. Furthermore, two popular hostels in Western Australia have been forced to close due to a major health risk, specifically asbestos exposure, leaving backpackers stranded in the region's largest city.
