A report to the council’s meeting on Monday night has recommended councillors accept a tender from Cleary Bros (Bombo) Pty Ltd to carry out the remediation work at a cost of about $190,500.  

The move follows a three-year campaign by beach users and the Corrimal Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) to fix damage caused by a storm event in 2013. 

The planned works include the removal of vegetation from the seaward side of the dunes and reshaping the beach dune profile. 

The scope of work was among options, listed in the council’s 2013 Dune Management Strategy, to address safety and amenity issues.

“Corrimal beach was identified in the Dune Management Plan as the next highest priority,” the report said.

Concerned Corrimal SLSC member Tony Cartwright welcomed the progress but conceded the timing “wasn’t ideal”, given the summer swimming season had already begun.   

“In saying that, I think from a long-term perspective, the sooner they get this work completed the better it will be for the beach and the people who use the beach,” Mr Cartwright said.

“It’s great news ... in terms of finally getting the work done.”   

Currently, there is only about 10 to 15 metres of Corrimal beach at high tide and it’s virtually non-existent every time a large swell event exacerbates the water level.

Mr Cartwright said the narrow strip of sand meant maneuvering life-saving equipment was difficult and often there wasn’t adequate room to set up the flags. 

“From a safety point of view, we really do need that wider beach,” he said, adding sand being locked up in the dunes had altered beach and wave-zone characteristics.

“In the last couple of years we’ve noticed a lot of lateral and diagonal rips that run along the beach,” he said.

“The problem with lateral and diagonal rips is that it’s very hard to set up a safe swimming zone.” 

If approved, the works are due for completion by the end of 2017. 

“The works are expected to take about four weeks, depending on weather conditions,” a council spokesman said.