Sandbar changes by Easter

Changes to how Department of Environment and Conservation rangers manage the opening and closing of the Mersey Point sandbar are expected to be in operation by Easter.

The department started conducting an internal review of its operating procedures and resources after two men drowned when they were washed off the sandbar on December 28.

A spokeswoman said DEC had met with Rockingham City Council and Rockingham Wild Encounters representatives.

She said officers hoped the review would be finished in time to implement the changes before April 22.

After the men drowned, DEC Swan coastal district manager Mike Meinema said a review would be held to see how another tragedy could be prevented.

While DEC could put up signs when the sandbar was closed and have rangers patrolling the area, he said people sometimes ignored them.

At the time, Rockingham MLA Mark McGowan called for a State Government inquiry, but Environment and Conservation Minister Bill Marmion said the Government would not make a decision until the police had finished their report and the Coroner had made an official finding.

South Metropolitan MLC Phil Edman said he would lobby Mr Marmion to introduce fines for people who used the sandbar linking the mainland and Penguin Island when it had been closed by authorities.

In January, Rockingham Wild Encounters ferry operator Terry Howson said when ‘‘a ferry operator rescued 100 to 200 people a year, there’s got to be a concern something is not right’’.

He said while many tourists got into trouble on the sandbar and had to be rescued, many residents did not know the local conditions either.