Freshwater Bay is one of the most spectacular areas of the Swan River, with its open water, beaches, steep vegetated slopes and cliffs. The area has significant conservation, landscape and heritage values, but is also subject to heavy pressure for residential, institutional and recreational use.
Public access around the foreshore is limited by the location of various developments, private properties and steep terrain. The natural values are being degraded by the loss of natural vegetation, weed invasion, littering and erosion.
Many State and Local Government authorities play a role in the management of the foreshores of Freshwater Bay, primarily the Town of Claremont and the Swan River Trust. A ‘Freshwater Bay Management Plan’ was drafted by the Swan River Trust and represents a cooperative effort between these two organisations to protect the natural environment of the Freshwater Bay area, provide for appropriate levels of public access to foreshore areas and conserve, enhance and promote the heritage values of the area.
A copy of the Plan is available for perusal at the Town of Claremont Library, in the Corporate Library section.
The river and foreshore is a habitat that favours several birds not normally seen elsewhere in Claremont. In addition, the naturally-vegetated escarpment is important for bush birds. Australian Pelican, Eastern Osprey, and Australian Pied Oystercatcher are regularly seen, and Nankeen Night-Herons gather on the jetty, particularly in summer. Find out more about birds you can see at Freshwater Bay and throughout Claremont below.
Image shown courtesy of David Free.