Project Information
We are undertaking significant works at Bicton Baths to further enhance the natural environment of the site while also delivering crucial new infrastructure needed by the community.
Projects include:
- Improvements to the 50m lap swimming area
- Installation of a shark barrier as announced by State Government in February 2023
- New stairs (complete)
- New changerooms
- Realignment of footpaths in the area
- Repairs to the foreshore revetment
- Parking Management Plan
These projects will allow for the re-instatement of crucial green space closer to the river while providing modern and accessible facilities and greater options and increased safety for swimmers.
To ensure the safety of the public and contractors during the works and due to limited access to the site, some areas of Bicton Baths will be closed to the public while work is underway. This will be communicated via signage on-site, and where paths are impacted, alternative routes for cyclists and pedestrians will be clearly marked. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
For detailed information on each individual project, see the individual project descriptions, timeline and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below.
Note: These projects are still subject to approval from various regulatory agencies due to their proximity to the river.
Changerooms refurbishment & realignment of footpaths
The newly refurbished Bicton Bath changerooms and paths are now open to the public. Operating hours are 5:00am to 9:30pm daily, providing extended access for the community.
The existing changerooms were constructed in the 1970s and did not comply with current accessibility standards and reached the end of their useful life.
To ensure the most cost-effective outcome and value for money, the City decided to refurbish the existing changeroom to now feature a Universal Accessible Toilet (UAT), separate male and female areas with ambulant cubicles.
There are currently a number of paths at Bicton Baths between the existing changerooms and the foreshore including two paths leading from the carpark to the Melville Water Polo Club and two paths leading from the jetty.
To enable the re-instatement of turf closer to the foreshore and have provision for a larger usable area for the public focusing around the newly formed safer swimming area bound by the Bicton Jetty, one of the paths leading from the jetty has been removed and the two paths leading from the carpark to the Melville Water Polo club have been consolidated into one Principal Shared Path running adjacent to the new changerooms.
To complement this work, limestone edging and steps were installed on the northern end of the new Principal Shared Path to match the existing adjacent landscaping installed to the north of the carpark.
Bicton Baths Changeroom & Path Design
Timeline
| New Stairs | Completed |
|---|---|
| Repairs to the foreshore revetment | Completed |
| New changerooms and path realignment | Completed |
| Installation of beach enclosure | Completed |
| Lap swimming area works | TBC |
*Please note these dates are subject to change and necessary approvals
Contact Details
If you have any questions about the individual projects please contact us and ask to speak to the relevant project lead:
| Changerooms and path re-alignment | Rashedul Huq |
|---|---|
| Repairs to foreshore revetment | Myles Bovell |
| Lap swimming area works and beach enclosure | Rashedul Huq |
Location
Projects Under Review
The semi enclosed beach area at Bicton Baths is an extremely popular place for a number of water-based activities, including swimming, snorkeling and water polo.
To provide greater options for swimmers, the City is currently investigating the option to install floating pontoons with attachment points are being proposed to replace the lower decks to improve the 50m lap swimming area. Community consultation will be undertaken as part of this process.
Due to the proximity of the works to the river and associated safety and environmental risks, the works must be completed in the warmer months when there are low tides, calm weather and little or no rain.
The City will continue to monitor car parking and vehicle movements, and will implement modified signage if necessary.
Completed Projects
We installed a beach enclosure at Bicton Baths jetty to offer a protected swimming area with a physical barrier to reduce the risk of a shark encounter. Unlike netting programs used on the east coast, it is designed to be non-lethal towards marine life.
The State Government funded the installation of the beach enclosure system, which cost approximately $300,000, and opened to the community on Monday, 11 December 2023.
Beach enclosures form one part of the WA Government’s Shark Hazard Mitigation Strategy, which outlines a range of approaches to help keep the community safe. The installation of the beach enclosure is in response to a shark attack not far from the jetty at Bicton Baths.
Following a safety audit of the stairs it was determined they had reached the end of their useful life. The stairs were demolished and replaced in late 2021 and are now open again to the public.
The rock revetment fronting the Water Polo Club was constructed in the late 1990s to protect the pedestrian path that connects Bicton Baths to the southern side of the reserve.
Due to extensive natural erosion, the revetment is now unstable and some of the rocks underneath the waterline has become dislodged and are resting in the river bed, posing a hazard to swimmers.
A marine consultant was engaged to carry out a detailed survey and report on the condition of the rock revetment wall in 2021 and they recommended a number of short-term actions which will address the safety issues and extend the life of the revetment by 10 years while we work towards full replacement.
Works include the repacking and mortaring of the existing rock revetment, excavation and repointing both the land and river side of the riverwall between Bicton Quarantine Reserve and the East Fremantle Yacht Club, repacking of limestone spalls, grouting of rocks with mortar and the installation of limestone access steps.
Due to the proximity of the works to the river and associated safety and environmental risks, the works must be completed in the warmer months when there are low tides, calm weather and little or no rain.
Frequently Asked Questions
To ensure the safety of the public and contractors during the works and due to limited access to the site, some areas of Bicton Baths will be closed to the public while the new changerooms are under construction. Please view the Construction Site Map for more details. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
We are removing one of the paths leading from the jetty and consolidating the two paths leading from the carpark to the Melville Water Polo Club, with the new path running adjacent to the new changerooms.
The State Government has announced support to provide a safe place for the community to enjoy the river with the installation of a shark barrier at Bicton Baths jetty by the summer of 2024. The shark barrier is currently subject to approvals from several government departments and the City is working closely with the State Government to progress this.
Shark barriers are designed to keep sharks out of a swimming area by providing a barrier. They are not designed to trap or catch marine life and the relevant environmental authorities will consider any potential impact in their assessment of the proposal.
The shark barrier being proposed will be made of recyclable materials, flexible enough to allow small marine life to pass through and rigid enough to prevent the entry of large marine animals, such as sharks.