Coastal Infrastructure - Riflebutts to Gas Bay

We are developing concept plans for new coastal infrastructure in Prevelly and Gnarabup and are seeking community feedback.

A previously prepared series of coastal infrastructure concept plans for Cape Mentelle to Gas Bay were developed in 2012. Over the past decade, the needs of our community and visitors have changed, with significant growth experienced in the region placing additional pressure on coastal infrastructure.

The new concept plans have been designed to accommodate current and future population growth and an increase in visitation, while minimising environmental impact.

The concept plans include additional car parking bays, expanded bike parking, improved footpaths, and enhanced facilities at popular beach locations including:

• Mitchell Drive
• Gnarabup beach (top car park)
• Grunters
• Gas Bay

Path re-realignment plans for Riflebutts to the White Elephant and the Cape-to-Cape track have also been prepared.

We are seeking community feedback on a variety of options to understand the future needs and desires of our local community and visitors alike.

Developing concept plans is the first step to improving our coastal infrastructure. Community feedback will help us to refine the concept plans, establish high-level costings and determine key priorities. Then we will know the level of investment we need from the State or Federal government to make the improvements.

Have Your Say

Please see the below information on each of the draft concept plans.

To have your say, please complete the survey below.

Hard copies of the survey are available upon request. Please call 9780 5254 or email yoursay@amrshire.wa.gov.au to request a copy.

If you have any questions about the project, please contact Stephen Schreck, Strategic Projects Officer, via email sschreck@amrshire.wa.gov.au or phone 9780 5259.

Consultation closes at 5pm, Monday 25 November 2024.

Draft Concept Plans

View the Draft Concept Plans

Vegetation clearing is likely needed to implement the proposed concept plans, however every effort has been made to utilise already cleared areas. Where vegetation clearing is required, it will be offset by revegetation within close proximity to the cleared areas.

Mitchell Drive Car Parking

Northern car park

A new car park with 7 x 90 degree car parking bays is proposed for to the north of the current car park. The car park will require the current footpath to be relocated around the back of the proposed car park. Whilst the car park location has been chosen to utilise an already cleared area, it is likely that additional clearing will be needed to facilitate the car park and footpath.

Southern car park

Option 1 – Proposes to expand the current car park with two parallel bays and an additional 5 x 90-degree bays. An extension of the current footpath is proposed around the back of the car park expansion. The proposal is aimed at balancing car parking provision and vegetation clearing.

Option 2 – Proposes an expansion of the current 90-degree car park to the south, providing an additional 11 car parking bays. A footpath will be extended along the rear of the car park. This proposal provides the greatest number of additional car parking, however requires the most vegetation clearing in order to implement.

Option 3 – Proposes to provide a footpath between two areas of car parking, with a small car park addition of 5 car bays to the south. This proposal results in the ability for existing vegetation to be retained (particularly a large melaleuca tree) by bringing the footpath forward. The proposal will however provide the smallest increase in car parking numbers.

Gnarabup Beach (top car park)

Option 1 – The concept plan proposes to expand the existing car park to the north, which will yield a total of 74 car parking bays (an additional 39 car parking bays). The existing footpaths will be expanded around the front of the car park. A footpath is also planned to connect to the existing network on Wallcliffe Road and run along the northern side of Ocean View Road. The new footpath will include a crossing point/ traffic calming at the entrance to the car park to connect into the existing footpath and bicycle parking on the west side of the car park. Additional low level landscaping will be implemented in select locations. Existing seating will be retained on the northwestern side of the car park, while there is opportunity to include additional park bench/ seating areas. The proposal will require vegetation clearing to the north of the existing car park and may require vegetation modification along the footpath alignment.

Option 2 – This concept plan proposes a minimal expansion to the existing car park, which will yield a total of 42 car parking bays (an additional 7 car parking bays). The proposal also includes an additional 20 gravel car parking bays within the southern road verge. Similarly to the above proposal a new footpath, traffic calming and pedestrian crossing point will be included connecting the area to the existing network along Wallcliffe Road. Low level landscaping will be implemented in select locations. Existing seating will be retained on the northwestern side of the car park, while there is opportunity to include additional park bench/ seating areas. The proposal seeks to minimise the required land clearing from the northern portion of the car park, utilising existing cleared areas for gravel car parking bays.

Grunters Car Park

The proposal includes an expansion of the formalised car park, additional parallel parking along the eastern side of Breeze Cove, a new footpath connection to the existing network, revegetation works along the roadside, low level landscaping and the installation of a new toilet facility. The proposed car park addition seeks to utilise areas of informal existing parking, reducing the need for additional impact on remaining vegetation.

The proposed footpath seeks to utilise previously cleared areas of vegetation, however exact alignment and extent of clearing will need to be determined. The provision of a toilet facility is seen as worthwhile, however implementation of an appropriate system and size will need to be investigated further to determine the viability.

Gas Bay Car Park

The proposal is to include a car park expansion to the north allowing for an increase in the number of car parking bays and better maneuverability within the car park. The proposed car park includes designated parking for permit holders (surf school, etc.) and provides low level landscaping. Bicycle parking facilities are proposed, along with a new toilet facility. Implementation of an appropriately sized toilet facility is subject to further investigation to determine the viability. Additional car parking on the northwestern side of Gas Bay Road is proposed to formalise the existing parking, with the intent to alleviate current road deterioration and safety concerns.

Option 1 – proposes to include parallel parking and a new footpath along the south eastern side of Gas Bay Road. The proposal will yield the greatest increase in the number of car parking bays and provide safe access for pedestrians and cyclists. The proposal has the potential however to require additional vegetation clearing/ modification.

Option 2 – Proposes to install only a new footpath on the south eastern side of Gas Bay Road. The footpath alignment reduces the extent of vegetation clearing, however yields the least amount of parking within the concept plan area.

Option 3 – Proposes parallel car parking along the south eastern side of Gas Bay Road and revegetation areas where parking is not suitable. This proposal will allow for the greatest increase in car parking numbers, formalising much of the current parking arrangement during busy periods. The proposal however provides no footpath connection for cyclists and pedestrians.

Path Re-alignment (Riflebutts to White Elephant)

The Shire has been monitoring the beach between Riflebutts and the White Elephant Café between 2018 and winter 2024. The monitoring involved reviewing coastal surveys to understand erosion along this section of beach. The most recent review (July 2024) has identified erosion along a 300 metre section of the beach which presents the greatest risk to the path.

A report prepared for the Shire identified a preferred path re-alignment, with a mixture of boardwalk and compacted limestone path being proposed between the Georgette Beach access track and the Gnarabup boat ramp. The report has also provided recommendations on path re-alignment priority, based on the surveyed erosion.

The proposed path re-alignment is intended to extend the life of the path into the future and improve access. It is expected that there will be vegetation modification required, however this can be offset by revegetation to stabilise the dune system along the re-aligned path.

Cape to Cape Re-alignment

The Cape to Cape track is one of the premier attractions within the Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park, providing hikers and recreational walkers with views of the capes coastline. Currently the track diverts east at the Rivermouth Car Park and goes around the back of the Prevelly and Gnarabup townsites. The current alignment misses out on much of the coastal vistas and provides a less direct route.

The Shire and DBCA have considered a possible amendment to the Cape to Cape track alignment that would see the track pass along Surfers Point, utilise the existing coastal walk to the White Elephant Café and head through the Gnarabup townsite eventually rejoining the existing track alignment to the south east.