Cottesloe Beach Redevelopment Gets $15 Million Boost for Stage One

An oceanfront redevelopment project at Perth's iconic Cottesloe Beach will go ahead after $10 million in funding was secured from the federal government and $5 million from the local government.

The Cottesloe Beach Foreshore Revitalisation Project, featuring a master plan approved in 2019, is set to repurpose an existing car park on Marine Parade into a plaza with open terraces.

The revamp will also widen footpaths and improve accessibility from Marine Parade Road to the beach, according to the Cottesloe council.

With total funding of $15 million, Mayor Melissa Harkins said the local government would be able to deliver stage one of the project, bringing "a more people-friendly precinct to the main foreshore area".

"This is just stage one of it [the project], but it's the hero piece," Ms Harkins told reporters on Sunday, "There will be additional trees planted so we'll green up the area.

"To sit there having a picnic on the grass, looking at the sunset over the Indian Ocean, is priceless.

"We're just thrilled we now have the infrastructure to match such a fabulous natural location."

When asked how the lost parking slots will be addressed, Ms Harkins said part of the overall project was to rebuild a car park in Napier Street into a multi-story facility, but this was not included in stage one development.

"In the short term, we are looking at some possible interim solutions, for example, creating some temporary additional car parks in the Napier Street car park."

Ms Harkins added that more funding was needed from the WA government to complete the entire project, which is estimated to cost just over $30 million.

"For the state government, ideally, we'd like another $15 million.

"Now that the federal government has assisted us, we are hoping the state government will also see the value in this location."

WA Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti said she congratulated the Town of Cottesloe on successfully securing the funding.

"It's a matter of us delivering on our commitments," she said, "We didn't make a commitment to the foreshore.

"As I said, they've got Australian taxpayers' money. We welcome any money that comes into Western Australia from the Commonwealth government. They did well to secure that money."

The project master plan also noted that local roads and intersections would be remodelled to create a thoroughfare for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles to share safely.

The revitalisation of the foreshore is estimated to create 37 ongoing jobs, predominantly in the surrounding retail shops, restaurants and cafes, and accommodation, according to the council.

It will also support an additional 32 jobs during construction.

Residents excited but say adequate parking needed

Resident Khai Fogliani said he was stoked to see what the redevelopment would eventually look like.

"It's exciting to get more people down the beach and a few more tourists, [which is] good for the economy."

Mr Fogliani said he acknowledged that the car park at Cottesloe had been "controversial", but he was not concerned as long as the local government could "get it right".

Another beachgoer, Rosie Lawn, said that despite the project having been "a long time coming", it looked great.

"Having a car park here [on the beachfront] is such a waste — we love this spot," Ms Lawn told the ABC.

"We get so much joy from the green, and being able to sit on the grass is fantastic!"

Ms Lawn added that "adequate parking" was paramount to people accessing the beach.

"They're [the local government] gonna make sure they get the parking sorted sooner than later … and make sure it works very well."