What made the news in Cockburn – 11-18 February 2022

Friday 18 February: In an Australian first, 135 precast concrete modules each weighing 3.5-tonnes will be craned into place at C.Y. O’Connor Beach this March as a unique engineered fringing reef purpose-designed to reduce beach erosion is installed 100m offshore. opens in a new window Over the past 20 years, the shoreline near the northern end of this popular City of Cockburn beach has eroded by more than 50m. This erosion has increased the likelihood of destruction of important built and natural assets in the reserve and resulted in dune loss and the relocation of pathways and periodic sand replenishment works totalling more than $500,000.  

City of Cockburn Disability Access and Inclusion Officer and Chair of Blinds Sports WA, Ben Rowe, is excited to launch the opening round of WA’s Blind AFL comp at Cockburn ARC tomorrow. opens in a new window There’s a few adaptions to the rules… it’s more touch instead of tackle,” the footy player told Millsy. WA All Abilities Football Association Manager Hayden Marchetto was also on Sports Breakfast on 91.3FM with Jacob Landsmeer talking about the exciting season. opens in a new window The season came to fruition following the City of Cockburn’s Disability Sports Day to commemorate International Day of People With a Disability in November 2021.

On today's episode of At Close of Business, Business News senior journalist Matt Mckenzie gives an update on Synergy's sale of the South Fremantle Power Station. opens in a new window In August last year, the City of Cockburn requested the State Government form a joint steering group to guide and drive the future activation of the historic North Coogee site. opens in a new window The City wrote to Energy Minister Bill Johnson and Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk requesting the State Government establish a steering group with the City and Development WA to coordinate community engagement to determine planning principles for the site adjacent to Chelydra Beach. The decision followed the State Government’s 23 June advertisement of the circa 1950s power station for sale by expression of interest, with Synergy expected to announce the successful bidder in September.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has confirmed Smokey the Bear’s assertion on the John Hughes Rumour File this morning that someone’s snack set off a fire alarm at DFES headquarters in Cockburn Central. opens in a new window    A woman seemingly avoided major injury after flipping her car on the Kwinana Freeway when it hit a pole between Russell and Rowley roads in Atwell before fleeing the scene early on Friday morning. opens in a new window

Thursday 17 February: The City of Cockburn will advance the thriving local Blue Economy as part of a founding member of the Blue Gravity partnership that has received State Government funding to support local Blue Economy and Indian Ocean marine ventures and start-ups. opens in a new window Blue Gravity will receive a share of $615,000 as part of the State Government’s X-TEND WA program, to grow entrepreneur and investor education programs that support the commercialisation of WA innovations. opens in a new window

Atwell and Jandakot primary schools are among 91 schools set to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs as part of the first round of the State Government’s $44.6 million Schools Clean Energy Technology Fund. opens in a new window Under round one of the funding, WA public schools were invited to apply for solar panels to reduce their environmental footprint and energy costs.

Dog owners will soon be able to walk their pooches on an on-lead only beach in North Coogee. opens in a new window The area will be established along the 200m shoreline of Chelydra Point Beach at Lot 2161 McTaggart Cove and 400m of the adjoining southern end of the C.Y. O’Connor Beach dog exercise area, and will come into effect on 14 March. opens in a new window More than 63 per cent of 1,986 respondents to a community survey sent to 4,820 Cockburn households supported the establishment of a dog on-lead area which will incorporate Chelydra Point Beach, formerly a dog-prohibited location.

On the very evening Fremantle council moved to outlaw shark fishing along its stretch of coast, PerthNow met a group of shark fishers trying their luck at Port Beach. opens in a new window Under the City of Cockburn’s Local laws, the practise of using or setting buoyed lines using blood or any other lure for the purpose of attracting sharks is prohibited at local reserves, foreshores, beaches and Ammunition Jetty at Woodman Point. opens in a new window

Wednesday 16 February: The State Government has established the State's Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, with Bibra Lake-based WA Wildlife Manager Dean Huxley one of several appointees. opens in a new window