Margaret River Pro

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The Shire has received an application from the World Surf League (WSL) Australasia to hold international surfing event – the Margaret River Pro.

The application proposes use of reserves at Surfers Point and The Box in Prevelly as well as sites allocated for parking on the corner of Caves Road and Gnarabup Oval.


Key points:

  • The application is for 5 years from 2024 to 2028 (inclusive);
  • The event is proposed to be held at Surfers Point for a maximum of 31 days (including set-up and pack-down) between 1 March and 30 June each year. In the event Easter falls within the 31 days a 4 day extension is proposed;
  • The event surfing window is 11 days (competition usually operates for 5-6 days - weather dependent);
  • If considered suitable by the WSL, the event is to be held at North Point in Gracetown for a maximum of 32 hours (4 days) with event infrastructure to remain for a maximum of 20 days (including set-up and pack-down);
  • The public can access all beaches throughout the event;
  • Recreational boats will be able to access all boat ramps during the event;
  • A licenced area is proposed at Surfers Point; and
  • Event Infrastructure will be set-up in and around the carpark of Surfers Point and at the Gracetown boat ramp carpark.
  • Public car parking areas proposed are the same as the 2023 event, at the following locations: corner of Wallcliffe and Surfers Point Road, Riflebutts Reserve and carpark, reserve on Mitchell Drive Prevelly, and Mcleods Paddock – 622 Wallcliffe Road.


WSL will also deliver a range of community and environmental initiatives including:

  • WSL One Ocean restoration program with local conservation groups;
  • No single use plastic on-site;
  • General, recycling, compost and cash for cans waste programs on-site;
  • Engage local suppliers, businesses and staff to help deliver the event;
  • Local trials event for Western Australian athletes to compete in the main event;
  • Rising Tides program for young female surfers to surf with WSL athletes;
  • Healthway and Surfing WA Mental Health Workshop for Boardriders Clubs;
  • Frontline Services Evening;
  • Engage Margaret River Chamber of Commerce and Margaret River and Busselton Tourism Association to promote local businesses, local wine producers and service providers;
  • Engage local food vendors; and
  • Opportunities for local wineries to promote their products at the event and to wider audiences.


How to find out more about the proposal


Alternatively, please contact Don Bothwell dbothwell@amrshire.wa.gov.au or 9780 5213


How can I have my say?

Share your feedback using the Submission Form below.

Submissions close Tuesday 3 October at 5pm.

The Shire has received an application from the World Surf League (WSL) Australasia to hold international surfing event – the Margaret River Pro.

The application proposes use of reserves at Surfers Point and The Box in Prevelly as well as sites allocated for parking on the corner of Caves Road and Gnarabup Oval.


Key points:

  • The application is for 5 years from 2024 to 2028 (inclusive);
  • The event is proposed to be held at Surfers Point for a maximum of 31 days (including set-up and pack-down) between 1 March and 30 June each year. In the event Easter falls within the 31 days a 4 day extension is proposed;
  • The event surfing window is 11 days (competition usually operates for 5-6 days - weather dependent);
  • If considered suitable by the WSL, the event is to be held at North Point in Gracetown for a maximum of 32 hours (4 days) with event infrastructure to remain for a maximum of 20 days (including set-up and pack-down);
  • The public can access all beaches throughout the event;
  • Recreational boats will be able to access all boat ramps during the event;
  • A licenced area is proposed at Surfers Point; and
  • Event Infrastructure will be set-up in and around the carpark of Surfers Point and at the Gracetown boat ramp carpark.
  • Public car parking areas proposed are the same as the 2023 event, at the following locations: corner of Wallcliffe and Surfers Point Road, Riflebutts Reserve and carpark, reserve on Mitchell Drive Prevelly, and Mcleods Paddock – 622 Wallcliffe Road.


WSL will also deliver a range of community and environmental initiatives including:

  • WSL One Ocean restoration program with local conservation groups;
  • No single use plastic on-site;
  • General, recycling, compost and cash for cans waste programs on-site;
  • Engage local suppliers, businesses and staff to help deliver the event;
  • Local trials event for Western Australian athletes to compete in the main event;
  • Rising Tides program for young female surfers to surf with WSL athletes;
  • Healthway and Surfing WA Mental Health Workshop for Boardriders Clubs;
  • Frontline Services Evening;
  • Engage Margaret River Chamber of Commerce and Margaret River and Busselton Tourism Association to promote local businesses, local wine producers and service providers;
  • Engage local food vendors; and
  • Opportunities for local wineries to promote their products at the event and to wider audiences.


How to find out more about the proposal


Alternatively, please contact Don Bothwell dbothwell@amrshire.wa.gov.au or 9780 5213


How can I have my say?

Share your feedback using the Submission Form below.

Submissions close Tuesday 3 October at 5pm.

Q&A

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  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Hello In your letter to property owners, you state “associated sites for parking on the corner of Caves Road and Gnarabup Oval”. I’m not clear what that means, can you please clarify?. And does it also include allowing parking on the Oval itself? Thanks.

    Shane Kelly asked 18 days ago

    Hi there, 

    Thank you for your question and for picking up an error we made in our letter. 

    Car parking for the event is not located on the corner of Caves Road and Gnarabup Oval. Public car parking areas proposed are the same as the 2023 event, at the following locations:

    • Corner of Wallcliffe and Surfers Point Road
    • Riflebutts Reserve and carpark
    • Reserve on Mitchell Drive, Prevelly 
    • Mcleods Paddock – 622 Wallcliffe Road


    We apologise for any confusion this may have caused. 

    Please get in touch if you have any further queries. 


    Kind regards

    Cait

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    I suggest you ban the use of these bean bags at the wsl pro. Every year after the pro has finished I find these little white balls buried into the grass. They are most definitely single use plastic. All it takes is for someone to slightly open the bean bag zip and millions of little things come pouring out and eventually washed into the sea. 2 years ago a bean bag burst and they where absolutely everywhere.

    Mo asked 23 days ago

    Hi there,

    Great suggestion! We will pass on your feedback to the WSL. 

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    Why is the application worded as ‘engage local suppliers/ food vendors…’ not ‘exclusively engage…’ or something about prioritising locals? This wording does not commit the organisers to do more than hire one token business. This isn’t enough for any event, and certainly not one allowed access for 10% of the year.

    Sorcha asked 25 days ago

    Hi there,

    WSL is working closely with the Shire of Augusta Margaret River, Margaret River Business Network, and the Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association to ensure local business receive communications regarding event tenders and local business opportunities. The Shire prioritises local food operators, providing a list of businesses to the WSL. 

    The organiser cannot 'exclusively' engage local suppliers as not all needs can be met by local businesses (for example, security and double decker marquee). Some of the stalls on site are event sponsors from Perth and interstate. 

    Please get in touch if you have any further queries. 

    Kind regards

    Cait

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    Has the shire ever asked the organisers to work longer hours eg night/day shift to set uo/pull down quicker?

    shoog asked 25 days ago

    Hi there,

    The challenge with working longer hours is the impact of sound and light for the local residents in the Prevelly region. There are also weather conditions to factor in, which can understandably impact construction times. 

    The 31 days is to allow for build time, usually 10-14 days before the event. The first week is usually just construction on the lawn area and then the northern end of the car park. Construction extends to the full car park about 1 week prior to the event. 

    Pack down starts as soon as presentations are complete. Pack down usually lasts 7 or 8 days. The car park is reopened in stages as soon as it is safe to do so. 

    Please get in touch if you have any further queries. 

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Has the WSL corporation taken over the total running of the event from WASRA as they did in Queensland, just before the event over there was cancelled?

    shoog asked 25 days ago

    Hi there,

    Thanks for your question. The Margaret River Pro engages Surfing Western Australia in an Event Management Agreement to assist with operational components of the event.

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Are there submission forms to download or do we just email in?

    shoog asked 25 days ago

    Thank you for your question. Next to the Q&A tool where you submitted this question, there is another tab titled 'Submission Form'. You can provide your feedback through the Submission Form tool. Alternatively, you can email Don directly dbothwell@amrshire.wa.gov.au.

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    We are in total agreement with Kelly. Great event for the South West. The resident passes could be better. thank you

    Aggie Frances asked 26 days ago

    Thank you very much for your feedback. It is important for us to know how we can improve management of the event. We will investigate options to better distribute resident passes.

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    Not sure what the "maximum of 31 days means". Is a continuous 31 days or can it be fragmented over the whole 1st march to 30 June? What does public access to all beaches during the event mean? Could someone, say, swim out to surfers point and go bodysurfing during the time that the event is on?

    SillySurfer asked 27 days ago

    Thank you very much for taking the time to comment. 

    WSL will have access to the event site for 31 continuous days to allow adequate time for set-up and pack-down either side of the event. The 4-month timeframe allows WSL the flexibility to change the event dates each year. Generally, the event operates for 5-6 days (weather dependent) during the 31-day allocated time period. 

    When competition surfing is underway at Main Break other users are requested not to use the break whilst the competition is running. Surfers can be in the water until this time. If the competition is running at The Box, Surfers Point can be used by other surfers. Southsides can be used by other surfers throughout the event. 

    Please let us know if you have any further queries.

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    I support this event being hosted in the South West. No opposition from me! However resident passes need to be better organised. We didn’t receive one this year and could have caused us issues if the event was moved to Gracetown.

    Kelly asked 26 days ago

    Hi Kelly, 

    Thank you very much for taking the time to comment. 

    Postal information is collected from our rates data base; passes are then mailed to property owners. We endeavour to contact all real estate agencies to ask them to let their tenants know passes can be collected from the Shire. 

    If a pass has not been received by a resident as they rent privately or for any other reason, we are happy for you to call us and arrange for a pass to be collected or posted. If you are caught out and do not have a pass, traffic management would let you through if you let them know your situation.

    Please get in touch if you have any further queries.  

Page last updated: 26 Sep 2023, 10:03 AM