- New beach enclosure going in the water at Bathers Beach in time for summer
- Cook Government committed up to $500,000 to the City of Fremantle for the installation of the enclosure
- Download the SharkSmart WA app to stay informed
- Cook Government committed to building safer communities
Work on the new beach enclosure at Bathers Beach will begin next week providing a protected swimming area along the Fremantle coastline for Western Australian families to enjoy this summer.
The Cook Government committed up to $500,000 to the City of Fremantle for the installation of the beach enclosure as part of WA's shark hazard mitigation strategy.
Beach enclosures offer a protected swimming area with a physical barrier to reduce the risk of a shark encounter and, unlike nets, are designed not to trap or harm marine life.
Local Henderson-based business Franmarine Underwater Services partnered with O'Connor business Safer Swimming Australia to deliver the enclosure which is approximately 340 metres long and is being installed between the existing breakwater, providing an enclosed swimming and snorkelling area of about 60,000 square metres.
The enclosure is similar to barriers already in place at Dunsborough, Busselton and Ceduna in South Australia.
Installation, which begins Monday, is expected to be completed by the end of the month and following safety checks the beach enclosure will open to the public.
Beach enclosures are an important part of the Cook Government's comprehensive shark hazard mitigation strategy to ensure the ocean and river environments can be enjoyed as safely as possible.
In 2023, the State Government provided funding to the City of Melville to install a beach enclosure in the Swan Canning Estuary at Bicton Baths, and to the Town of Cottesloe to replace the Cottesloe Beach enclosure.
Funding assistance has also previously been provided for the installation of beach enclosures at Quinns Beach, Sorrento Beach, Busselton, Old Dunsborough, Middleton Beach (Albany) and Esperance. Coogee Beach also has an enclosure funded by the City of Cockburn.
As stated by Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis:
"The Cook Government is continuing to work closely with local governments on a range of shark hazard mitigation strategies, including beach enclosures, shark warning systems (towers) and Beach Emergency Numbers (BEN) signs.
"It is fantastic to see the new Bathers Beach enclosure going in and I congratulate the City of Fremantle for the work they have done to get it in place.
"This is the ninth beach enclosure to be funded by the State Government to provide another safe swimming and snorkelling area for the community ahead of the summer holidays.
"It is also a timely reminder to download the SharkSmart WA app to stay informed of shark activity and for anyone who sees a shark to report it to Water Police immediately on 9442 8600."
As stated by Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk:
"I'm proud to be part of a government that is helping to make Bathers Beach at Fremantle safer for locals, visitors and tourists.
"Beach enclosures are an important shark hazard mitigation strategy to ensure the ocean can be enjoyed as safely as possible and unlike nets, will not trap or harm marine life.
"This will give people confidence that they are swimming in a protected enclosure when they decide to go for a dip at Bathers Beach this summer."
