Vehicle access to be restored at South Mole following big fishing community response

In a great result for metro fishers, Recfishwest is delighted to announce that Fremantle Ports is to reopen vehicle access to South Mole in the coming weeks.

The cherished land-based fishing spot has only been accessible on foot for the past few months with Fremantle Ports’ decision to ban vehicle access to South Mole sparked by illegal camping, vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

There were growing concerns from metro fishers – particularly senior fishers and those with mobility issues – that the vehicle closure could become permanent. As one of the safest, most accessible and popular land-based metro fishing locations, the vehicle closure meant walking hundreds of metres while carrying gear to favourite fishing spots from the base of South Mole, inadvertently excluding many fishers with mobility issues.

However, there was a fantastic response from hundreds of local fishers who responded to our call to have their say in Fremantle Ports’ online survey on the issue. To its credit, the port authority has taken on board the feedback from more than 800 survey responses and recognised the importance of South Mole’s fishing access for people of all ages and abilities fishing for much-loved species like pink snapper, herring, skippy and squid.

Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland said, “This is a great win for fishers and the port authority’s decision shows that when united, our collective voice can ensure positive outcomes that protect the social, mental and physical wellbeing benefits of fishing.”

Listen to what else Andrew had to say in this video.

 

Fremantle Ports has said vehicles will be allowed back once works are completed to prevent illegal camping, which will include implementing parking machines with the first three hours of parking free of charge as was previously the case on the mole. According to a recent Perth Now article, Fremantle Ports are hoping to restore vehicle access in August.

Andrew added, “While this is a great outcome, it won’t be our last battle that requires metro fishers to unite and have their say, with industrialisation developments in Cockburn Sound and the Marmion Marine Park proposals on the horizon.

“We urge you to have the chat with your friends and family on issues at hand and keep an eye on our media platforms for updates on what could impact your fishing experiences or access in the future.”

Since the vehicle closure was put in place back in March, fishers have had to walk up to 800m from the carpark to reach the lighthouse, a daunting task for fishers with mobility issues that unfortunately excluded many of them from wetting a line here. The restoration of vehicle access is a great win for easier access to this cherished fishing spot.

Continue Reading

January 30, 2025

Recfishwest pushing to boost freshwater fishing with floating jetty at Big Brook Dam

An innovative idea for a new fishing platform at Pemberton’s Big Brook Dam is being floated by Recfishwest and the local fishing community – quite literally!   The iconic dam provides year-round trout fishing…

Read More

January 30, 2025

Port Hedland community to get a new artificial reef!

Recfishwest is excited to announce plans to install a new artificial reef off the coast of Port Hedland in partnership with BHP. A new addition to the State’s network of seven current artificial reefs, the new Port…

Read More

January 29, 2025

Design plans for Bunbury’s new jetty promise exciting, accessible fishing for everyone!

When last year’s State budget was released, we were excited to see $4 million allocated for a new fishing platform to replace Bunbury’s recently condemned community fishing jetty.  Today, we can share the design…

Read More

January 28, 2025

WA’s marine heatwave demands action to build fisheries’ resilience

Last week, DPIRD issued a marine heatwave alert for the North Coast and Gascoyne regions with the potential for it to reach the southern half of the State over the next couple of months. This follows current sea…

Read More

January 21, 2025

Bluewater Classic sees big species variety and donations to science

A strong turn-out for the 2025 Bluewater Classic run out of Geographe Bay showcased the South-West community’s passion for fishing – with many of the 160-plus participating fishers donating samples to fisheries…

Read More

January 20, 2025

Family fishing fun lures kids to enjoy the great West Aussie outdoors

The great West Aussie summer holidays are seeing thousands of mums, dads and kids making golden memories at family fishing events in the South of our State.   Family-fun-packed events like the ever-popular Mandalay…

Read More