Patricia Gill, Denmark Bulletin

Parking will be at a premium at Ocean Beach and Prawn Rock Channel with the area expected to be congested with beachgoers over summer.

Ocean Beach near the Denmark Surf Life Saving Club is expected to remain closed to the public until October next year as work continues on the refurbished clubrooms.

However, there will be restricted access to parts of the beach via the sand bar lookout stairs.

The Ocean Beach car park will remain closed while contractors use the area as a laydown space and part of the car park is sectioned off for surf club equipment storage.

The car park cannot be opened to the public for safety reasons concerning the nearby construction site.

Lifeguards will patrol Ocean Beach over the holidays in December and January, with the Shire of Denmark providing two paid lifeguards from Monday to Saturday morning.

On Saturday afternoons and Sunday, as well as public holidays, Denmark Surf Life Saving Club volunteers guards will patrol the beach.

This will only occur on Sundays in February.

New signage at the lookout stairs will warn visitors about the chance of strong ocean currents and swells.

In particular, the warnings concern the section of beach directly in front of the stairs.

The Shire of Denmark anticipates a challenging time for beachgoer traffic congestion.

The Shire plans to provide accommodation operators with information highlighting other beaches and how to identify rips.

Club, shire prepare for busy summer

The information will also encourage visitors to respect the environment, avoid littering and to consider alternative means of transport.

Earthworks and the retaining wall for the refurbished clubrooms have been completed.

By the end of the year, a new building pad, footings, walls and internal works will be finished on the clubrooms and landscaping will be underway.

Next year should bring the completed clubrooms, storage area, public amenities and kiosk, all abilities parking and access paths.

Also the surf club building ground floor refurbishment, landscaping and other public realm works should be completed.

The Shire asks that issues relating to congestion in the area should be reported online via the Report It form available on the Shire Website.

Rangers will patrol the area.

This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 21 November 2024.