Questions are being raised about the City of Stirling pushing ahead with a proposed boardwalk from Scarborough to Trigg Beach despite advice against it from an environmental assessment and its own coastal planning policy.
The city is currently exploring the boardwalk proposal, which it believes has the potential to “enhance and protect the coastline, improve safety for pedestrians and enable visitors to take in the picturesque natural area”.
However, a preliminary environmental opportunities and constraints assessment commissioned by the city and conducted by environmental consultancy Coterra Environment found that any development in the area “should be designed to not occur on or adjacent to unstable or mobile dune landforms susceptible to erosion”.
According to a coastal hazard risk management and adaptation planning report (CHRMAP) formally adopted by council in August 2023, Trigg Beach, Trigg Beach South and the surrounding vegetated dunes are classified as medium risk of erosion, but will be high risk by 2030 and at extreme risk by 2070.
It recommends avoiding further permanent development on land identified as being prone to erosion over the next 100 years, which includes the entire 7km stretch of coastline managed by the city.
The boardwalk proposal has sparked strong opposition from several local environmental organisations, who believe it will do more harm than good.
Mike Masiello, a local resident and spokesperson for the Bush Not Boardwalk group, which includes both locals and environmental experts, believes there are more sensible and cost-effective alternatives for pedestrian access than building a boardwalk.
“At first glance the boardwalk seems like a nice idea, but once you look at the economic and environmental risks, it’s hard to justify,” Mr Masiello said.
“How can you build a boardwalk that will need to be relocated in the future because of erosion issues? This seems to border on the ridiculous.
“You only have to look at the damage cyclone Alfred has caused to coastal erosion-prone areas in such a short amount of time to see why this boardwalk is a bad idea.”
Several proposals for a boardwalk at this location have been presented to the the council since 2005.
This most recent proposal was initiated last July after the council allocated $500,000 for a feasibility report in its 2024-2028 corporate business plan.
Despite the CHRMAP report, the city is moving forward with its plans, with cost assessments, preliminary designs and construction assessments now under way.
Safety concerns have been raised over the current narrow shared pathway along the coast, with a city spokesperson suggesting the proposed boardwalk would help address this issue, along with providing a range of benefits.
“There are many boardwalks in coastal and environmentally sensitive locations across Australia which improve access and allow visitors to experience these locations,” they said.
“A coastal boardwalk from Trigg to Scarborough could showcase our stunning coastal environment while protecting and enhancing it for years to come.
“With appropriate planning, such boardwalks can give people a greater appreciation of the natural environment while also delivering a range of other benefits.”
Thomas Cameron, also from the Bush Not Boardwalk group, is concerned about the environmental impact the proposed boardwalk could have on the dunes, which are classified as a ‘Bush Forever’ site under government legislation.
“It defies logic that the City of Stirling is prepared to consider spending more ratepayers’ money on further costly assessments that fail to address the very basics of environmental guidelines and standards when working around very sensitive environmental areas,” he said.
Friends of Trigg Beach chairperson Robyn Murphy doesn’t believe the boardwalk will be approved.
“We are confident that any boardwalk design that the city proposes would not be approved by the State Government environmental protection authorities,” she said.
The City of Stirling said it would begin community consultation on the project later this year, with the next steps to be considered in the 2025-26 financial year once the feasibility study is complete.