Surfing Community Intensifies Push for Artificial Reef at Ocean Reef Marina
Western Australia's surfing community has significantly escalated its campaign for the construction of an artificial surf reef near the Ocean Reef Marina development. The City of Joondalup is now poised to consider a formal motion that could initiate further studies and shape the future trajectory of this long-debated proposal.
Council Chamber Packed with Frustrated Surfers
Local surfers filled the Joondalup council chamber during last week's annual general meeting of electors, voicing considerable frustration over perceived inaction regarding a report into the artificial surf reef proposal. The passionate attendees urged council officials to finally release a pre-feasibility report that was first commissioned back in 2023 and completed in August of last year, yet remains undisclosed to the public.
The surfers presented three specific requests to the council: immediate release of the delayed pre-feasibility report, allocation of $240,000 in the 2026-27 budget to commence a comprehensive feasibility study and assessment of purpose-built artificial surf reefs, and establishment of a working group that includes surfing representatives to properly consider all relevant reports.
Significant Loss of Surf Breaks
Clint Bryan, president of the Mullaloo Board Riders Club and leading advocate for the artificial reef, revealed startling statistics about the impact of the marina development. According to Bryan, the project has resulted in the loss of approximately 75 percent of the area's surf breaks, a situation he describes as beyond unacceptable for the local surfing community.
"A lot of people think it's just a bunch of surfers having a whinge, but surfing is our chosen sport, it's healthy mentally, physically, and socially," Mr Bryan emphasized. "I'd like to see anybody find another sport in the City of Joondalup that has lost 75 percent of their sports recreational area."
Bryan drew comparisons to other sports, noting that "if football clubs shut down, there would be hell to pay. If netball courts went, there'd be hell to pay." He stressed the importance of recognizing surfing not merely as recreation but as a legitimate sport deserving equal consideration.
Political Responses and Official Positions
Joondalup mayor Daniel Kingston explained that the delay in releasing the pre-feasibility report stems from ongoing research into alternative coastal management strategies, including erosion control within the municipality. The artificial surf reef report will likely be presented alongside this broader coastal research to provide council with comprehensive information for decision-making.
Moore MHR Tom French, who attended the AGM, expressed openness to supporting the reef proposal under specific conditions. "I'm supportive of exploring an artificial surf reef proposal, particularly where it can enhance recreational opportunities, improve coastal amenity and deliver broader community and environmental benefits," French stated.
However, WA Lands and Planning Minister John Carey presented a contrasting perspective, noting that an artificial reef was never part of the State Government's original project scope. Carey referenced a 2019 study that investigated creating a wedge wave surf break, which concluded that consistently surfable waves would be unachievable due to prevailing swell patterns and beach depth contours, with additional concerns about public safety.
Historical Context and Future Prospects
The Ocean Reef Marina project, now under State Government oversight with partial opening anticipated in 2026, has seen costs balloon to approximately $272.3 million - more than double the original $120 million announced in 2017. The completed development will feature waterfront dining establishments, a family beach, parkland, Western Australia's first ocean pool, and capacity for up to 1000 residential dwellings.
Interestingly, early iterations of the marina project did include plans for an artificial surf reef to compensate for lost surf breaks, though these never materialized. Artificial reefs are man-made underwater structures specifically designed to enhance surfing conditions, with Western Australia already having one operational example at Middleton Beach in Albany, constructed at a cost exceeding $11.75 million.
Bryan remains optimistic about the pre-feasibility report's findings, believing it will demonstrate the reef's feasibility at multiple potential locations. "All we're asking for is 25 percent back, so let's move forward and work with council and government," he asserted. "We don't want to push against them, but we won't stop until we achieve our goal."
The council is expected to consider the electors' motion requests after the February deadline, with the matter scheduled for presentation alongside other AGM-raised issues at a later date. The surfing community's persistent campaign highlights ongoing tensions between coastal development and preservation of recreational spaces, with implications for how Western Australia balances progress with sporting and cultural traditions.
