A crew of US Navy submariners visiting Western Australia has partnered with the City of Cockburn to combat beach erosion. On Tuesday, November 18, approximately 15 submariners joined the city’s environmental operations team at Coogee Beach, where they installed two tonnes of brushing and hand-weeded invasive species.
Brushing involves placing natural materials like twigs, branches, and vegetation on dunes to stabilize sand and prevent movement. This effort is part of Cockburn’s ongoing coastal management program, which includes sand nourishment, revegetation, and shoreline monitoring to address erosion pressures from climate change.
Over the past 20 years, more than 50 meters of shoreline in Cockburn has been lost to erosion. Mayor Logan Howlett welcomed the support, stating, “Our coastline is one of Cockburn’s greatest natural assets, and protecting it requires hands-on work and strong partnerships.”
The submariners are in Australia ahead of the establishment of Submarine Rotational Force — West, a regular rotation of US submarines in WA to strengthen defense and community ties. US Consulate Perth Consul General Colleen Altstock noted the value of the coastal rehabilitation activity, saying submariners from USS Vermont enjoyed assisting with dune protection and interacting with locals.
