Busselton Foreshore
Safe Swimming Zone Success.
After the success of the trial Shark Barrier at Dunsborough, the City of Busselton invested in a barrier to enclose its very popular foreshore beach. The barrier created a clearly marked zone for safe swimming that provides a focal point for water activities and has become a destination beach where swimmers feel safe.
Project Summary – Busselton Foreshore
| Length: 500m | Barrier Type: SSA Barrier 7.2 |
| Install date: 2015 – still in use | Seasonal Installation: Removed for Winter |
The Brief
The City of Busselton wanted to create an area for safe swimming adjacent to the popular jetty. The barrier was to be 500m long. In addition, for swimmer safety, marine environment, and financial considerations, the enclosure needed to be designed to reduce the risk of vandalism, given it was in such a busy location. The Council indicated that it was wanting the barrier net to have a five year life span.
Solution
Using the knowledge and experience gained during the design & deployment of the Dunsborough trial net, the team refined both the design and the material used. The concept had been successfully proven at the Dunsborough site, but modifications were needed to make the barrier net tamper-proof and to ensure that it met Council’s cost expectations over the life of the net.
Net Benefits
The installation of the Busselton Shark Net created a safe swimming destination. The area has become very popular with locals and tourists alike, who swim, stand-up paddle board, and generally enjoy the ocean within the protected enclosure.
The popularity of an inflatable fun park within the perimeter of the barrier net shows the confidence and peace of mind that the enclosure has given to beachgoers.
For the Council, the netted barrier has proved successful in achieving their aims of creating a destination safe swimming area, an important part of the foreshore precinct for tourists and locals alike.
In Summary, the Barrier enclosing the foreshore swimming area has delivered:
Economic benefits to the area
Has had a low environmental impact with no by-catch recorded
Positive social impact
Delivered a great return on investment to the council
Lifespan
The Shark Barrier at Busselton was initially installed in 2015. Given the sheltered conditions of Geographe Bay, the barrier was initially expected to last seven years and has so far been in service for eight years.
It is a seasonal installation, meaning that it is removed from the water for the winter months. Removing the barrier from the water provides an opportunity to give the net a thorough cleaning and remove all the bio-foul, algae, and growth that has built up during the time it has been in the water. Taking the net out of the water during winter has protected it from the worst of the winter storms.
It also provides an ideal opportunity for careful inspection of the net to check wear rates, and identify any maintenance or repair tasks that may need doing.
Netted enclosures, like the one at Busselton, that are well maintained can be expected to last a minimum of five seasons. This may be longer, depending on the prevailing conditions at the beach installation site.