Community sessions on cliff safety for beachgoers

The Shire of Augusta Margaret River community are invited to attend an information session to address safety concerns at critical cliff sites along our limestone coastline.

These sessions will include a presentation from the Shire’s consultant Geotechnical Engineer who will explain more about recent limestone cliff assessments and the recommended actions at sites including Riflebutts, Surfers Point, Gnarabup and Gracetown.

Shire President Ian Earl said the information sessions are an opportunity for the community to gain a better understanding about the risk of rock fall along our fragile limestone coastline.

“Our Shire is home to a number of incredible limestone rock cliffs and caves.

“However, limestone by nature is a soft rock and can become unstable over time.

“Knowing where the areas of concern are, understanding the risks and taking safety precautions can go a long way to preventing serious accidents," he said.

Session dates

4-6pm Monday 3 February 2020, Gracetown Community Hall 4-6pm Tuesday 4 February 2020, Sea Garden Prevelly 4-6pm Thursday 27 February 2020, Sea Garden Prevelly 4-6pm Friday 28 February 2020, Gracetown Community Hall

A plan to address safety concerns at critical cliff sites along the Shire’s coastline was endorsed by the Council on 11 December 2019. This resulted in a temporary fence and signage being immediately installed at Riflebutts to caution community members of the risk of rockfall along the northern end of the beach, as well as further signage installed at Gnarabup and Surfers Point.

Investigations in 2019 resulted in four key actions being recommended for immediate action:

Removal of a small overhang at Gracetown. Installation of additional fencing and signage at Surfers Point with possible future underpinning of an overhang near the main beach access stairs. Installation of a protection fence at Riflebutts consisting of high tensile wires and posts that extend from the toe of the cliff into the surf zone. Underpinning of the overhang under the concrete stairs that lead from the upper carpark down towards the café at Gnarabup.

The new works follow on from modifications made to stairs at Gracetown and Surfers Point and additional signage installed throughout the Shire in 2017.

For more information and to RSVP to a community session please visit yoursay.amrshire.wa.gov.au/cliff-safety, or contact John McKinney on (08) 9780 5255.