Background

The City of Cockburn is home to the award-winning and increasingly popular Coogee Maritime Trail, an underwater dive and snorkel trail at the northern end of Coogee Beach. The trail includes the historically significant and federally protected Omeo Shipwreck, located only 25m from shore. The trail is an important community and tourist area for everyone to enjoy. User safety, and maintaining the shipwreck is the City’s priority.

View a map of the Coogee Maritime Trail in the Document Library.

Use of motorised vessels

The Department of Transport (DoT) is responsible for regulating the use of moorings and motorised vessels along the City's coastline. In most areas, motorised vessels must travel at a maximum speed of 8 knots (roughly 15 km/hr) within 200m of the shore.

However, there are specific restrictions around the trail. Motorised vessels are not allowed within 100m of the shore (between the Napoleon Parade groyne and just south of Coogee Beach jetty). To help users navigate these restrictions, markers have been placed in the area.

View the existing boating conditions in Figure 1 in the Document Library.

Have your say

The City is exploring community perspectives on boats, jet-skis, and moorings near the trail and wants to hear the community's views on the following proposals:

• Install three moorings in the '8-knot' area near the Maritime Trail as part of a six-month trial.

Refer to Figure 2 in the Document Library.

The City applied for a grant to install seasonal moorings in the 8-knot area near the trail. This initiative aimed to minimise risks to swimmers and reduce damage caused by boat anchors. This would be achieved by encouraging vessels to stay in designated areas and providing them with a secure location to berth at a safe distance from the trail.

Subject to approvals, this could be implemented in 2023 or 2024 and can be removed if the 8-knots area is removed in the future.

• Advocate for DoT to remove the '8 knot' area (between the Omeo Shipwreck and the eco-friendly shark barrier) and make this area boat and jet-ski prohibited.

Refer to Figure 3 in the Document Library.

The City is considering this proposal in response to community concerns about swimmer safety near the trail, however this change could take up to seven years to implement. The Department of Transport (DoT) is the decision-maker on this matter and this information will help the City understand whether DoT should be lobbied for these changes.