Walmanyjun Cable Beach Foreshore Redevelopment

Central Axo_230116_lowres.jpg

Overview

The Cable Beach Foreshore Master Plan (CBFMP) was adopted by Council at its Ordinary Meeting of Council on 19 October 2017 and a Business Case was completed in May 2020.

The purpose of the CBFMP was to provide a long-term vision for the Cable Beach foreshore area and to be used as a tool to facilitate investment in community infrastructure through municipal funds, grants and public and private partnerships.

The CBFMP considered, in greater detail, the concept designs that formed part of the Cable Beach Development Strategy (2016), and provided a long-term vision for the Cable Beach Foreshore area.

Improvements set out in the Master Plan include reconfiguring the car park to create a new beach park; creation of a new entry plaza and an upgraded entry with public art, entry statement, garden bed and tree planting; increased ocean views from the site; universal access across the foreshore area; and a the potential for a buried seawall to manage coastal erosion. A copy of the adopted Cable Beach Foreshore Master Plan can be found by accessing the link below.

The Cable Beach Master Plan was the guiding document for the detailed design phase of the Cable Beach Foreshore Redevelopment Project.

Construction of Stage 1 commenced in September 2023. 

CBFR.png

 

What will the Walmanyjun Cable Beach Foreshore Redevelopment consist of? 

AA revised Back of SLSC_221205 resize.jpg
 

The redevelopment of Cable Beach Foreshore will transition one of Broome’s high-quality natural assets into a global drawcard. The Council has endorsed a Master Plan, which was completed in 2017, and a Business Case, which was completed in May 2020.

The project explored many open design components including a new promenade, an amphitheatre upgrade and activation spaces. Other features include the renovation of the Broome Surf Lifesaving Club, upgrade of the Cable Beach car park and the provision of new access options to the beach.

The redevelopment will offer additional commercial opportunities and would link together some of the town’s major tourism, cultural and leisure attractions. 

Why is this a major focus for the Shire?

In recent years the Shire has invested significant funds and channelled major energy to see positive infrastructure improvements at Town Beach and in Chinatown. It makes sense that Cable Beach would be the next precinct in line to be refreshed.

The project is a major focus for the Shire because the upgrades will prove to be a major asset for Broome, attract more visitors to our region and provide the community with improved spaces in the Cable Beach area, including an iconic water-play area and event space.

The Cable Beach Foreshore Redevelopment is a $50 million project, with the Shire already committing over $1 million

Project progress and disruptions

Stage 1A works
September 2023-February 2024

The Detailed Design is complete and construction of Stage 1 commenced in September 2023 with the laying of large draining pipes behind they will replace channel running behind the Broome Surf Life Saving Club and Minyirr Park. 

As a result of the work, the car park behind the Surf Club is closed and there will be occasional traffic disruptions in the vicinity of the roundabout at Cable Beach West Road and Sanctuary Road

Cable Beach Foreshore Redevelopment Stage 1 works.png

Disruptions expected during Walmanyjun Cable Beach Foreshore Redevelopment work: September 2023 - February 2024

Stage B1 works
March 2024 - December 2024

Stage A1 of the Walmanyjun/Cable Beach Foreshore Redevelopment is well underway, with car park and drainage works behind the Broome Surf Club expected to be completed next month. 

This paves the way for Stage B1 construction works are due to commence in late March and will mostly take place around the Surf Club.

The work will include the installation of Stage 1 elements, including:

  • Replacing the existing ramp and beach stairs near the Surf Club to make them safer and more accessible.
  • Installing a new lookout.
  • Laying the basketball court.
  • Constructing the skate park.
  • Improving the trailhead into Minyirr Park.
  • Reprofiling the sand dunes to their natural state to mitigate erosion.
  • Landscaping the car park behind the surf club and installing new lighting.
  • Replacing the beach access stairs near Zanders.

Beach access restrictions

  • Pedestrian access between the Surf Club and Zanders will be maintained. However, there will be no public beach access from the Surf Club during the ramp and stair works.
  • Beach access via the stairs in front of Zanders will also be closed.
  • As a result, the other stairs approximately 150m north of Zanders (towards the vehicle ramp) will be the primary point of beach access during construction.
  • Every effort will be made to reopen the new beach stairs before the Stage B1 works are completed in December.
stage b1 beach access.png

 

What does this mean for dogs on Cable Beach?

  • Existing laws prohibit dogs on- or off-lead along the swimming area of Cable Beach, which extends north from the Surf Club to the vehicle ramp/rocks.
  • Dogs will not be allowed on to Cable Beach between the Surf Club and Vehicle Access Ramp during the works.  
  • People wishing to take dogs south of the Surf Club can do so via the access tracks in front of Murray Road (Divers Tavern), De Marchi Road and Banu Avenue, and from Gantheaume Beach.
  • Dogs will still be allowed north of the north access stairs and Vehicle Access Ramp. The first kilometre north of the rocks is a lead-only area.

Zanders playground

The playground near Zanders has been temporarily dismantled for the works and will soon be temporarily reinstalled somewhere on the lawn area to the north.

The public toilet next to Zanders will remain open with access via the east side of the pathway. 

What about car parking?

Car parking at Zanders and along Cable Beach Road will be unaffected during these works, and we will be reopening some of the car parking behind the Surf Club.

How we got here

The project’s Business Case has been completed and the Cable Beach Foreshore Redevelopment is a shovel-ready project that the Shire hopes will attract Government funding. The Shire has commenced lobbying efforts with the State and Federal Governments.

The project was included in the 3-Year Broome COVID-19 Recovery Plan, which has been collated by the Shire and our Broome stakeholders to stimulate the local economy. More information and the plan can be viewed here.

The Shire Council endorsed the 2021-22 Budget at the June 2021 Ordinary Meeting of Council, which includes a funding commitment of $867,815 towards the detailed design phase of the project.

Josh Byrne & Associates were selected as the preferred contractor to complete detailed design at the June 2021 Ordinary Meeting of Council. A Community Engagement Plan was endorsed at the September 2021 Ordinary Meeting of Council, while a Community and Stakeholder Reference Group endorsed at the November 2021 Council meeting.

Community consultation was undertaken in March 2022 and feedback on a 50% concept design was received.

What coastal protection measures are being undertaken ahead of the project?

As part of the detailed design process, a number of technical investigations have been undertaken to further understand the design considerations required for the protection options at Cable Beach. These investigations include an analysis of a buried rock revetment wall and sand nourishment. 

The technical investigations identified ‘sand nourishment’ as the preferred coastal protection approach for the dune system in front of Zanders and the Surf Club on the basis that it would result in a more natural coastal protection approach whilst also providing a reasonable risk profile.

In the northern section of the foreshore, where the beach access and drainage outlet are located, the investigations found that the most suitable protection would be an exposed rock revetment. Key factors that influenced this recommendation included data obtained through wave modelling that identified localised wave run-up in the northern amphitheatre section, and the presence of existing coastal protection structures (gabions) and the need to provide and protect beach access and drainage structures.

The recommended coastal protection options were endorsed by Council at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 24 February 2022.