Perth Council Deploys Megaphone Volunteers to Protect Historic Shipwreck
The City of Cockburn has launched an innovative enforcement initiative at Coogee Beach, deploying volunteers equipped with megaphones to protect the federally protected Omeo shipwreck from irresponsible visitor behaviour.
The five-week trial, running until 20 April, represents an escalation of heritage protection efforts following positive feedback from a preliminary trial conducted last summer. Volunteers will monitor the site from 7am to 1pm Monday through Saturday, with Sunday operations commencing at 9am.
Educational Approach to Heritage Conservation
Clare Courtauld, the city's service lead for sustainability and climate change, emphasises the dual purpose of the program. "Their role is to provide community education about the trail's history, while helping protect the Omeo shipwreck by promoting responsible behaviour, including not touching or climbing on the historic wreck," she explained.
The volunteers receive specific training, including scripted responses for common violations. A typical intervention might involve: "Good morning snorkellers. This is the City of Cockburn. Can those of you standing or climbing on the wreck please get off? Thank you."
Heritage Protection Challenges
Dr Ross Anderson, Curator of Maritime Heritage at the Western Australian Museum, has previously highlighted the cumulative impact of visitor interactions. "Hundreds of impacts over time will gradually cause long-term damage," he noted, explaining how physical contact damages protective marine concretion and increases corrosion rates.
The Omeo, a retired steamship that grounded at Coogee Beach during a 1905 storm, represents a significant heritage asset within the Coogee Maritime Trail. Its accessibility has made it popular among snorkellers and divers, but this popularity presents ongoing conservation challenges.
Legal Framework and Enforcement
Interactions with the wreck fall under Commonwealth heritage legislation, making unauthorised contact or removal of materials a federal offence. Despite ongoing education initiatives, compliance remains problematic, prompting the council's innovative enforcement approach.
"Despite prior and ongoing initiatives to educate the local community and visitors about responsible snorkelling and recreational activities, managing incidents involving climbing on the wreck, or people removing items from the site remains a challenge," Courtauld acknowledged.
Community Consultation Process
The city has initiated public consultation through an online platform, seeking community input until 22 April. This feedback will inform decisions regarding the permanent implementation of megaphone-based monitoring.
Preliminary data suggests the volunteer program has reduced climbing incidents, though Courtauld notes that "the impact of the megaphone is currently undetermined."
The initiative reflects broader challenges in balancing public access to heritage sites with conservation requirements, particularly in Western Australia's growing coastal tourism sector.