Port Geographe beaches cleared fo seagrass wrack ahead of summer

Port Geographe is primed and ready for summer as temperatures rise and beaches are cleared of seagrass wrack. Almost 100,000 cubic metres of seagrass wrack has been removed from the local beach after months of work by the City of Busselton and the Department of Transport throughout winter. The success on the Western Beach follows work in March when 20,000 cubic metres of sand was pumped from an offshore disposal area to nearby Wonnerup to replenish the beach before erosion events during winter. Both measures were key recommendations from locals in the Port Geographe Working Group, who have said the improvements to the coastline are already benefiting the community. South West MLC Jackie Jarvis said the hard work during the winter months had delivered great benefits for residents during the upcoming summer months. “The seawrack at Port Geographe is well known, and virtually turns our beautiful beach and coastline unuseable,” she said. “I look forward to seeing the big difference it makes this summer.” In 2019 Port Geographe residents threatened a class action against the department, demanding a long-term solution for the accumulation of seagrass wrack on Western Beach. At the time, residents believed the 2013 Port Geographe Reconfiguration Project completed by the Department of Transport had not alleviated the accumulation of seagrass wrack, and that annual dredging strengthened the pungent odour. The department will continue to work with the City of Busselton and the community to ensure management of the Port Geographe and Wonnerup coastlines continues.