Beachgoers to tap into new facilities

Dog owners and beach lovers received a $25,000 boost at last month’s City of Rockingham council meeting, with a motion unanimously carried to construct a new shower and water fountain at a popular spot along the foreshore.

Councillor Kelly McManus proposed that additional facilities were needed at the Weld Street car park entrance to the beach.

There are 36 shower facilities along the Rockingham foreshore, but Cr McManus said she and fellow councillor Joy Stewart had heard calls for more at Weld Street.

“While Joy and I were getting ready for the council elections, we talked to a lot of residents that come down to the dog beach, but there is no water available,” she said.

“There are no drinks for the dogs, you can’t wash your feet off — it is a great recreational area for kids as well, but there is no water available.

“The good thing about the City officer’s recommendation was that they were right on board with identifying it as a high-use area and wanted to keep encouraging people to be out and active.”

Mayor Barry Sammels said the new shower and drink fountain would be constructed within the next year.

“In the Rockingham Foreshore Master plan, which outlines upgrades to the Rockingham foreshore area, this particular spot is identified as a future activity node for exercise and other recreational pursuits, so we can expect it to have higher community usage in the future,” he said.

Of the $25,000 to complete the project, labour costs are estimated at $11,000, with Water Corporation service connection, infrastructure, ancillaries and landscaping also to be considered.