THE location of a new Yanchep Surf Life Saving Club building looks set to move to Club Capricorn beach, despite concerns about beachgoer safety.
City of Wanneroo staff will tonight recommend to council that the clubhouse be moved up to 1km north of its current position off Brazier Road, near Yanchep Lagoon, as part of the Capricorn Coastal Node structure plan.
The relocation, favoured by developer Capricorn Village Joint Venture, would allow a new surf club to become the feature of a plan that aims to create a major link between the proposed Capricorn city centre and the beach to promote tourism.
But Yanchep Surf Life Saving Club president Johnny Heesters said the clubhouse should be located where there was “real danger” for swimmers, near its present location at Yanchep Lagoon.
“I don’t think the City and the developers have taken all the facts into account when making this recommendation,” he said.
“What they both don’t seem to understand is Capricorn Beach is a reflective beach, which means it is very deep water until you hit the sand and has no sandbars.
“That means the danger level for swimmers is much lower at this beach, in comparison with the rips and surf breaks we have at the lagoon.
“The Yanchep clubhouse and patrols need to be where the danger is and the danger of Yanchep Lagoon far outweighs the danger of Capricorn beach.”
The Yanchep-based club’s patrolling volunteers saved 21 lives and gave first aid to a further 49 people last season.
Wanneroo Mayor Jon Kelly said he was still waiting for a written request from the club so he could put a formal proposal to the council to establish a working party to deal with the issue. This is despite extending the offer in November last year.
“I haven’t received the letter yet, so I haven’t been able to move forward with the proposal,” he said.
“I suspect that the reason we haven’t received it yet is because there is a diverse range of opinions within the club.
“But I am keen to sort out things with the club and the council does want their input.”
But Mr Heesters said he wanted the clubhouse at its current location.