Swan Canoe Club banned from sailing near Fremantle bridge due to ‘risky’ underwater noise levels

Swimmers and river paddlers are being told to stay away from the construction site of Fremantle’s new traffic bridge because of concerns about underwater noise levels. But the same warning won’t affect boaties, who will be able to continue to take their craft up and down the river while piling works to construct temporary jetties and permanent bridge foundations, which begin this week, are underway. Main Roads WA this week confirmed that noise from piling works could put swimmers or paddlers at risk and a temporary “no swimming” zone was now in place. The State Government is embarking on a multi-million dollar plan to construct a new traffic bridge connecting Fremantle with North Fremantle, as well as cycling and pedestrian paths. A Main Roads spokesperson said the changes and disruptions had been “extensively communicated” to residents and river user groups, with signage also planned at entry points along the river. “The piling works required for construction of the new Fremantle Traffic Bridge project will generate heightened levels of underwater noise, which could pose a health risk to swimmers and other recreational water users in the area,” the spokesperson said. “As a result, swimmers and passive craft users (kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, rowing boats) are requested to stay upstream of the Stirling Traffic Bridge during the project’s working hours of 7am-7pm, Monday to Saturday.” Swan Canoe Club vice-president Marion Ewing told PerthNow its 400-strong membership regularly paddled down to the existing bridges from their base in Mosman Park. “A lot of our membership paddle before 7am before they go to work and that early start is another frustration for us,” she said. Paddlers will still be able to access all parts of the river on Sundays and boats allowed to pass through at all times. Waters west of the Fremantle Traffic Bridge are already banned for swimmers. Ms Ewing said members ultimately understood Main Roads’ position after a meeting earlier this month but some were still “bereft” at the news. “The only concern is the noise produced by driving the pylons in and that noise is under the water. In fact, there isn’t a problem with us paddling on top of the water,” she said. “The people that use paddle skis at our club, if they capsize, their heads don’t even necessarily go in the water because of the nature of the craft. “For the rest of us that paddle sea kayaks, we wear a (personal flotation device) and if our heads do go in the water, you’re talking about a couple of seconds before our head is out of the water.” The Swan Canoe Club last week won support from the Town of Mosman Park for a $200,000 grant that would go towards a bigger boatshed for its home base, with facilities currently at capacity.