Marine Stadium Recreational Uses Trial

PROJECT DETAILS

• A Recreational Opportunities Area (ROA) that excludes powered vessels has been established to support a range of recreational uses within the northern 300 metres of Marine Stadium.
• Access to the Jetty and Pontoon has been enabled through a 45-metre-wide navigation channel along with a manoeuvring area to each side of the structure.
• This management option has been achieved using a Waterways Notice issued under Section 22 of the GCWA Act.
• This is consistent with the vision for the area outlined in The Spit Master Plan (2019).
• Future long-term management options for Marine Stadium will be informed by related work from the Waterways Place Strategy.

MONITORING FINDINGS

Monitoring of the ROA has been undertaken to assess its effectiveness. This has included regular water quality testing, monitoring recreational users in the area and monitoring vessel compliance with the Waterways Notice. Results over a 12 month monitoring period have shown:

• An improvement in water quality: The levels of bacteria harmful to human health (e.g. Enterococci) within the trial area have reduced by a factor of three since the implementation of the ROA and vessel exclusion zone. The water quality parameters (e.g. temperature, pH, turbidity, etc.) indicate that water quality is compliant with adopted guidelines for recreational activities, including swimming.
• High number of recreational users in the ROA and surrounding foreshore areas: Monitoring confirmed almost 80,000 people used the area over the 12-month monitoring period. Of these users, 41% people were in the water and 59% people on the foreshore. The busiest day of the week has been Sunday from 12 – 2pm, with December the busiest the month and Australia Day the busiest day. This is considered a strong result indicating  high uptake and a community willingness to use the foreshore area and water in the ROA.
• Excellent vessel compliance: Monitoring of the Marine Stadium found strong compliance with the Waterways Notice from vessel owners, with no vessels observed anchored within (or using) the exclusion area.

BACKGROUND

• GCWA undertook a destination planning process for Marine Stadium in 2022, including significant community consultation, to find the best future uses of the area focusing on the marine environment and foreshore areas.
• The Marine Stadium Tidal Exchange Investigation (also completed in 2022) attributed breaches of the safe swimming thresholds within Marine Stadium to illegal waste dumping by vessels. The study recommended GCWA adopt a management option that separates vessels from other recreational uses is the most effective way of supporting a range of recreational activities within Marine Stadium (as sought by The Spit master plan, outcome 1.9).
• In March 2023, GCWA issued a Waterways Notice for 12 months to enable the establishment of the recreational opportunities area.
• In March 2024, GCWA extended the Waterways Notice for a further 12 months to allow for completion of evaluation activities and determine a suitable future management option for Marine Stadium.