Opening of Coogee Maritime Trail welcomed, but stairs the missing link

STAIRS linking a grassed area with a new maritime trail in North Coogee should be finished this month.

More than 3000 people packed Port Coogee on Sunday for the City of Cockburn’s Salty Fest, held on the corner of Socrates and Napoleon parades.

The event’s main attraction was the opening of the $300,000 Coogee Maritime Trail.

But with the City yet to install stairs over the seawall, it was challenging for people carrying dive gear to access the beach.

Cockburn’s environment manager Chris Beaton said the aim was to have that completed soon.

“We expect the stairs to be installed by the end of March if weather conditions and tides are favourable,” he said.

Bucket List Diver owner and instructor Kate Scollary said the stairs were needed.

“I personally quite like the idea (of the maritime trail),” she said.

“It’s close to Fremantle and the shore with some fish life and plaques to read and information about the wreck and what to look out for.

“The main problem at the moment is the access to the site.”

Despite the stairs not yet being finished, Mr Beaton said Salty Fest had run smoothly.

“There were many highlights, including the Omeo wreck, dive trail and opportunities for snorkelling or scuba-diving and learning about the 1905 wreck and the components of the dive trail,” he said.

“Importantly, the focus on running a sustainable event with healthy food options and minimal waste proved an outstanding success.”

While conditions were not perfect, with the sun limiting the angles that could be shot from and a green tinge to the water, Global Unmanned Systems operations manager Rob Lednor said his team had a good day capturing the event via a drone.

“There was a pretty good atmosphere,” he said.

“It seemed like people were having a really good time.”