Esperance Shire to ramp up safety precautions on dangerous beaches after drowningsBy Emily JB SmithABC EsperanceTopic:Drownings1h ago1 hours agoWed 29 Jan 2025 at 11:59pmFencing will be installed at Esperance's Salmon Beach to deter people from dangerous rocks. (ABC Esperance: Anthony Pancia)In short:Nineteen people have drowned along the Esperance coast since 2001 with two people dying in the region's waters this month.The Esperance Shire plans to install fences to deter people from rocks at its most dangerous beaches.What's next?The shire is looking to the community for other ideas to make local beaches safer. Fences and additional signage will be installed at dangerous beaches along the Esperance coast in the wake of a spate of drownings in southern Western Australia.Two people have died in waters around Esperance this month along with three others at beaches along WA's southern coastline. A 56-year-old woman drowned at Hellfire Bay, 750 kilometres south-east of Perth, on Saturday, and a 40-year-old woman died after being swept from rocks at Salmon Beach, 7km from Esperance, three weeks earlier.They represent the 18th and 19th deaths in Esperance waters since 2001.'Black rocks' the riskMuch of the danger stems from a black algae on rocks lining many of the region's picturesque beaches.It becomes particularly slippery when wet, at times causing people to fall into the water.The rocks are also hit by rogue waves, which can appear even on seemingly calm days and knock people off their feet.At a media briefing yesterday, the Esperance Shire said it would install fencing and warning signs at both ends of Salmon Beach to deter people from these dangerous rocks.If this is well received, more fencing and signage will be installed at Chapmans Point and Picnic (also known as Dolphin) Cove.Chapmans Point is popular among tourists and surfers, who use it to access a popular break. (ABC Esperance: Hayden Smith)These have each been the sites of recent rock-related deaths with two people dying within four months of each other after falling from rocks at Chapmans Point two years ago, and a 21-year-old died after falling from rocks between Twilight Beach and Picnic Cove in 2020.Esperance Coastal Safety Group chair Chris Brien said the move would be "money well spent".Chris Brien says every drowning is tragic for the community. (ABC Esperance: Hayden Smith)"The tourists don't know how dangerous these rocks are. People who have grown up in town do, but tourists don't," he said."We need to get that message out and this is part of a longer strategy to try and educate visitors to our beautiful coastline on the dangers of the place as well."Acting Esperance Shire President Jennifer Obourne hoped the Salmon Beach fencing and signage would be in place in the next few weeks.She said the signs would display an exclamation mark on a yellow background, which would communicate danger despite language barriers.Strategy to target touristsCr Obourne said council met with the Esperance Coastal Safety Group on Tuesday to discuss ways to combat the issue."We were told that most of the deaths occur within 24 to 48 hours of a tourist arriving," she said."It's people new to the area who jump in the car and go and have a look because it's gorgeous and they want to take that photo.Local stakeholders plan to consult on a strategy to make the Esperance coast safer. (ABC Esperance: Hayden Smith)"But unfortunately, if you make a mistake, the penalty is really harsh."We're trying to figure out a way to just put some buffers and some grace around that so that the mistake doesn't have to be fatal."She said the group would come back to the shire with a recommendation for a formal strategy in the coming months.Posted 1h ago1 hours agoWed 29 Jan 2025 at 11:59pm, updated 59m ago59 minutes agoThu 30 Jan 2025 at 12:02amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)