The beauty of the North Coogee coastline can be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike following completion of new restroom facilities at one of Cockburn’s most popular family destinations.
Omeo Park is home to a new architect-designed facility with public toilets, changing rooms and a shaded seating area providing respite from a busy day by the seaside.
The facility’s contemporary design is a response to extensive local consultation to ensure the much-needed facility met practical and aesthetic community expectations for the high-profile location on the corner of Napoleon and Socrates parades.
Omeo Park is the gateway to the Coogee Maritime Trail and Perth’s most accessible dive wreck, the historic 1858-constructed Omeo which sits on the ocean bed just 25m offshore.
Created by Perth’s award-winning Carabiner Architects and built by Bibra Lake-based Pennant Construction, the restrooms feature a contemporary minimalist design, complemented by a low-height profile to preserve ocean views.
Accessibility, safety and security were key priorities. The building’s design ensures passive surveillance and clear sightlines to deter antisocial behaviour with the added assistance of CCTV technology due for installation later this year.
Constructed from durable, low-maintenance materials such as concrete, aluminium, stainless steel and merbau hardwood to help reduce environmental impact, this will also ensure the facility remains in excellent condition for years to come at the exposed coastal location.
The facility has five toilets including a Universal Accessible Toilet, plus male and female changerooms and two outdoor showers.
The $2.576m project was delivered with support from the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program, which contributed $1.077m. The remaining $1.499m was funded by the City.
The LRCI program supports Australian councils to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects in their region, creating jobs and long-lasting benefits for communities.
City of Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett said the much-needed facility was a milestone for Cockburn which had a growing reputation as both an adventure and leisure destination both for locals and visitors from the wider metropolitan area.
“This new facility in the vibrant Port Coogee location will make spending time along this part of our coast an even more comfortable and memorable experience,” Mayor Howlett said.
“We know this project is important to our community, with the project page on the City’s Comment on Cockburn website receiving nearly 1,000 visits and almost 600 design document downloads.
“Just over 60 people provided feedback on the draft design, helping inform the wonderful facility we have today.
“These upgrades provide modern convenience while maintaining the natural beauty that makes Omeo Park such a treasured local destination.
“We encourage people to explore the endless recreation, adventure and leisure activities in Cockburn. It is a sought-after destination for fun, culture and outdoor excitement!”
Mayor Howlett said Council had also approved a plan for developers to create up to 30 extra parking bays off Napolean Parade to help alleviate parking strain, taking the number of oceanside parking bays within 300m of the site to more than 100.
Find out more about Cockburn’s adventure and leisure options, including Coogee Maritime Trail.
Comments attributable to Josh Wilson, Federal Member for Fremantle:
“I’m glad to be working as part of the Albanese Labor Government which has contributed more than $1 million to build the new amenity building at Omeo Park in Port Coogee.
“For locals and visitors alike, this is a much-needed facility for a popular area.
“The Commonwealth’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Fund has delivered more than $11.5 million to projects across the federal electorate of Fremantle.
“I was pleased to see ‘Community’ added to a program that once only funded roadworks, a change that I called for back in 2020 and that has resulted in our local governments being able to deliver a range of community-backed, shovel-ready projects.”