Above: A concept for the pool. Below: Logger information may change the pool’s design.
Camera IconAbove: A concept for the pool. Below: Logger information may change the pool’s design. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Pool push makes waves

Staff ReporterWestern Suburbs Weekly

‘Surfers can also log onto our site and see the real-time data,’ University of WA Centre for Water Research associate professor Clelia Marti said.

The centre’s wave logger about 500m from Isolators surf break south of Cottesloe Groyne is one of four in an $800,000 project subcontacted to the university’s researchers from private environmental consultants working for Mr Buckeridge, of Mosman Park, on his proposed port at James Point, Cockburn Sound.

Dr Marti said the loggers were evaluating possible wave and current changes if the port, north of the Kwinana industrial strip, went ahead.

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The Cottesloe device started sending data to the centre on April 19 to complement information from two loggers in the Sound and a third between Carnac and Garden islands, which all started recording last October for the 18-month project.

The Cottesloe logger and its four mooring buoys were installed to provide data from the northern-most end of the project’s study area.

However, a PhD student at the centre will also use its information to run his computer model investigating how a proposed J-shaped extension on the north side of Cottesloe Groyne will affect wave, current and erosion patterns at WA’s premier beach.

Dr Marti said the data could allow the pool to be designed to avoid it being filled with winter weed, as well as requiring less maintenance, allowing people to swim in it all year.

Pool proponent and Cottesloe Surf Lifesaving Club member Tom Locke, of Cottesloe, said the centre’s computer model would be used to adapt his proposed design so it was ‘self-sustaining’.

‘It won’t be a big wall and will probably be 0.5m to 1m above the high-tide mark,’ Mr Locke said.

He said sea pool critics often based their arguments on interstate designs of more than 60 years ago, while his would reflect the latest knowledge of water currents and pool shapes.