Yanchep Lagoon is one of the most popular beaches to visit within the City of Wanneroo area.
It has great views, a friendly staffed cafe and draws large numbers of both local and international visitors each year. However, a trip to the lagoon also has its drawbacks.
The car park areas are unable to cater to the large numbers of people wishing to visit this popular spot.
On a regular basis cars have been seen to park along both Wilkie Avenue and down Brazier Road.
The bays marked specifically for disabled parking edge right onto cracked and uneven pavers and poorly constructed stairs that lead towards the beach.
These stairs are part of the main retaining wall. One hand rail seems completely warped and of little use to elderly citizens or parents supporting children using the stairs.
The walls are supported by wooden beams which don’t appear able to hold the stonework in place should their poor condition deteriorate any further.
Severe cracking within the mortar means that it could only be a matter of time before an accident occurs.
As one of the major tourist attractions within the area, Yanchep Lagoon’s public toilet and shower facilities don’t seem able to cater to the large crowds that visit this area.
Whilst they appear clean and tidy they are by no means as modernised and accessible as the new toilet facilities found at Quinns Rocks.
Signage points to another toilet block some 150 metres away.
Wilkie Avenue seems to narrow between the car park and the beach and the pedestrian path does not seem broad enough to allow two people to walk alongside one another.
A great deal of rubbish litters the area despite a number of bins being in evidence and the sand dunes appear to be in need of rehabilitation and fencing off.
It seems inevitable that Yanchep Lagoon will be attracting yet more visitors as a result of a rise in the local population. This unsafe and outdated area should be updated by the City of Wanneroo in order to provide an attractive and welcoming feeling to those visiting.
A foreshore management plan for the area has been in the works, but when it may begin, is yet to be known.
The stairs and paths from the car park to the beach pose the greatest safety hazard and an update would be a timely measure to improve the area as well as protect the well-being of all visitors.
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THE UNEXPLAINED
Two unexplained occurrences have been seen at the Yanchep Lagoon over the past two weeks.
Firstly, a Department of Planning and Infrastructure (DPI) survey boat was photo’d in and around the lagoon. Attempts to track down what the boat was doing have come up empty-handed. Through the DPI website it is impossible to contact any media personnel to respond to enquiries.
Then, last week an odd looking mucky, oily substance washed up on the south side of the lagoon. A Yanchep resident contacted the City of Wanneroo and a council officer was going to investigate and get back to them. The resident is still waiting for an explanation.
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