Perth locals being urged to help clear plastic from west suburb beaches and hunt for ‘ocean treasures’

Seaweed and seagrass cover the often pristine shores of Cottesloe Beach.

It may look ugly from afar, but members of conservation group Cottesloe Coastcare have found a number of interesting ‘ocean treasures’ hidden among the piles.

Volunteer Robyn Benken shared photos of some of the finds, including a Port Jackson shark egg box, a small sea rabbit, a sea urchin and lace coral.

Beachgoers also discovered sponges, sea squirts and starfish.

According to the group, this is part of a normal winter cycle and organic material will return to the ocean.

But unfortunately the diligent volunteers also collected plastic litter and fishing lines tangled in weeds, which will end up back in the sea.

They are collecting what they can but are calling on the public to help with their next beach walk.

To help the marine environment, Ms Benken suggested people buy a small bag for picking up litter and sturdy gardening gloves.

Cottesloe Coastcare began planting native dune species along the coast nearly 30 years ago and has since planted more than 150,000 saplings.

Ms Benken said the best part of volunteering for the group over the past 30 years was seeing the results of their hard work’s vegetation, as well as “increased bird and animal life throughout the dunes”.

He said volunteers were busy hand-weeding along the coast after the winter planting of native seedlings and were “always on the lookout for extra staff”.

Further up the coast, neighboring group Cambridge Coastcare has labeled the dunes at Floreat Beach “unrecognisable” after recent work.

Excess sand was recently moved from the City Beach shore to replenish the dunes, after which volunteers laid mats and planned to plant saplings to replenish the area.

Cambridge Beach Care member Meg Anklesaria said volunteers joined forces to deliver nearly 2,500 square meters of heavy coconut matting on the regenerating dunes, and it took “teamwork, skill and determination”.

“Next week CCC will plant native coastal species in the matted dunes to help bind the sand, build a healthier dune system and protect the newly renovated Floreat Surf Life Saving Club from storm surges and coastal erosion,” he said.

“Working together, we create a stronger, more resilient coastline for our community and future generations.”

According to the City of Cambridge, the “sand nourishment works” were part of a three-year project with Cambridge Beach Care and natural resources management organization Perth NRM to revegetate and stabilize the fore sand in front of the Floreat Surf Life Saving Club.

“As part of these works, naturally deposited sand at City Beach was transported to Floreat Beach and placed at the end of the dune,” a town spokesman said.

“This helps reduce dune slope and improve its overall stability, creating better conditions for revegetation and ongoing dune management.”

The council is monitoring an area north of Floreat Beach where erosion has occurred, eliminating planting efforts made by volunteers in recent years.

The spokesman said this erosion was part of a natural cycle and no mitigation work was planned.

“The town monitors beach conditions following significant storm events and undertakes any work necessary to ensure safe public access,” he said.

“This may include sand nourishment and access maintenance where coastal processes impact roads or beach access points.”