City of Albany to make third Federal Government bid for artificial surf reef funding

The City of Albany will make a third bid for Federal Government funding to deliver a long-held vision for an artificial surf reef off Middleton Beach following a groundswell of community support.

About 40 people gathered at the City of Albany council chambers on Tuesday in support of the reef predicted to generate surfable waves for 41 per cent of the year off Middleton Beach.

Councillors backed an officer’s recommendation to make an application for funding under the sixth round of the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund and to commit a confidential amount of money to the project to get it over the line.

If the BBRF application is successful the city will advocate for further funding “to minimise the City’s direct financial commitment to the project”, according to the officer’s recommendation.

The project, dubbed the Southern Ocean Surf Reef, missed out on its $5m bid for funding in last year’s BBRF round which was needed to bolster the $5m already secured from the WA Government, which does not extend beyond 2023-24.

During public question time, former Albany Board Riders president Peter Bolt called on the council to back the project for its health, economic and tourism benefits for the town.

“In Albany, young, aspiring surfers are either confined to the dumping, poorly shaped waves off Middleton Beach or are reliant on parents to transport them to Torbay or Nanarup,” he said.

“These limitations mean many young people in Albany can’t participate in what has the potential to be a lifelong pursuit with significant contributions to both physical and mental wellbeing.

“The idea and desire for a surf reef at Middleton Beach has now been in the community and actively campaigned and supported for over 20 years — it’s time.

“It is a project that once built will provide ongoing, social, health, economic and environmental benefits for over 50 years and with minimal ongoing input of resources.”

Australian woman’s surfing pioneer Jodie Cooper sent a message of support for the project, and Albany Surf Life Saving Club and Albany MLA Rebecca Stephens called on the council to vote in support of the funding application.

“When you look around our City you can see when all tiers of government contribute and work together — our community benefits,” Ms Stephens said.

“The Southern Ocean Surf Reef is very important for our economy, community and our young people.

“Without the financial support of you, the local government tonight, the future of this project is in doubt.”

Cr Greg Stocks implored his fellow councillors to “be brave enough to take on a transformational project” for Albany.

“If we don’t make our best effort . . . then we are disregarding 30 years of community work, we implore people to get involved and I don’t want to be a part of a council who gets to the sharp end where we are needed to have a bit of grit and then back out,” he said.

Cr John Shanhun spoke against the recommendation calling for the $11m to be spent on another major project that could provide year-round benefit.

Cr Shanhun and Cr Alison Goode voted against the recommendation. Cr Chris Thomson did not vote due to an impartiality interest.