Locals furious over boardwalk plans in Yanchep lagoon redevelopment

Yanchep residents have hit out at plans for a coastal boardwalk at Yanchep Lagoon, claiming the City of Wanneroo is seeking to move ahead with its $43.5 million foreshore redevelopment before meeting conditions imposed by council.

At last week’s council meeting, several locals urged councillors to reject the city’s recommendation to approve the foreshore management plan, which sets out a staged program of works across the Yanchep Lagoon precinct through to 2030.

Earlier this year, when the Yanchep Lagoon FMP was approved for submission to State planners, the council endorsed establishing “clear and enforceable design parameters” for the proposed boardwalk.

The conditions also required further investigations into the boardwalk’s alignment and elevation, including assessment of vegetation, dune systems and environmental sensitivities, while ensuring “the precinct operates cohesively and safely.”

Yanchep local William Bowman believes none of the conditions set by council have been met in the new report and said the proposed location of the boardwalk should be shifted behind the foreshore dunes.

“In March of this year, the council resolved that approval of the foreshore management plan would require four conditions to be met. Unfortunately, the plan today is identical to what was presented in March, with some minor wordsmithing,” Mr Bowman said.

“A boardwalk behind the foreshore dune effectively meets the city requirements of connecting car parks, but with a much lower environmental impact, improved beach access and at a much lower cost to ratepayers.”

Mr Bowman said the currently proposed alignment of the boardwalk could have adverse impacts on the area.

“There are so many negative impacts to the boardwalk, yet no effort from the city to contemplate an alternative and that’s very disappointing,” he said.

“The current alignment will be a racetrack all day and night, with lookouts of places to congregate, party and engage in nuisance behaviour.

“The boardwalk, as proposed, will encroach and remove the highest quality vegetation in the area.”

The proposed boardwalk would link The Settlement and Mary Lindsay Homestead.

Other works included in the $43.5m program include upgrades to Fisherman’s Hollow public open space, a new Surf Club Roof Deck and public plaza, and services and civil upgrades across the surrounding area.

Under the proposed implementation plan, work on the boardwalk and access paths is scheduled to be completed by October 2028, at an estimated cost of more than $10m.