The City of Wanneroo will set aside more than $1.6 million over the next five years in a bid to continue protecting swimmers during summer.
At a special council meeting this month, councillors agreed unanimously to renew the contract with Global Marine Enclosures for its shark barrier equipment at Quinns Beach, which has been in place since August 2016.
The enclosure, which extends 300m along the shore and 85m offshore in the southern section of Quinns Beach, is next to the Quinns Mindarie Surf Life Saving Club.
Cr Helen Berry said she met club members just days before the city’s special meeting and they supported the continued usage of the enclosure.
“It has actually been used a lot (the enclosure) and more people go to Quinns Beach every year because they feel safe with swimming out there,” she said.
The barrier was first installed in December 2016 and is active during the peak months of October to April each year to avoid major damage from winter conditions.
The city’s contract with GME expired in April this year, but after an inspection of all concrete components and anchors it was confirmed they were expected to remain safe and functional until June 2028.
At the meeting, Cr Jordan Wright asked if the enclosure could be moved elsewhere along the coast — potentially to another suburb — to reduce costs.
Assets director Harminder Singh said no other locations had been considered.
The city has applied for a $200,000 grant through the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to help pay for the enclosure, which has already been factored into the city’s 2023-24 budget.
A community survey for a swimming enclosure at Quinns Beach in 2015 gained 80 per cent support from a total of 136 responses.
GME’s projects include the City of Albany’s Middleton Beach swimming enclosure.