About WPA
The Walkerville Progress Association (WPA) was formed in 2006 to give a voice to ALL visitors to Walkerville, whether they be guests of residents, campers or day trippers who have an interest in providing facilities that are for the benefit and enjoyment of all. It was in response to misinformation and a lack of transparency by decisionmakers at Walkerville over several years regarding various issues such as the campaign for a boat ramp by the local fishing club,and preparation of management plans etc.
We are against inappropriate and insensitive development but at the same time recognise that some facilities need to be provided for the enjoyment of families and these facilities need to be kept in a good state of repair.
Out of 17,000 annual users of Walkerville about 20% are landowner and friends represented through the Rate Payers Association and 20% are boaters represented by the Boat Club. This leaves 60% of users with no voice at all or any way of communicating their view on issues they feel are important.
We stand for transparency and openness on all matters regarding the future of Walkerville.
Major Issues
The biggest single issue that still faces (and will continue to face) the Walkerville users is the question of separating pedestrian and vehicle traffic on the beach at Walkerville during peak season. Although the Foreshore Committee and the Department of Sustainability and Environment have rejected a strong call for improvements that problem still remains. The WPA is not philosophically for or against a boat ramp but supports the majority view of the wider community. Whatever that may be.
Other issues that have been raised of a lesser nature that will be reviewed by the association vary from small housekeeping issues to other issues such as:
- Sealing of road in camping ground to keep down dust.
- Improvement of facilities at beach at Waratah.
- Construction of pedestrian / cycle track from camping ground to Walkerville North.
- Upgrading of picnic facilities for daytrippers at entrance to camping ground.
- Improvements to beaches at North and Waratah Street by small sized rock removal and parking improvements.
- Picnic facilities at Walkerville South.
- Underground power lines along the foreshore at Walkerville North.
The Future
The only agenda of the WPA is to provide representation for the views of a wide as possible section of the community that will allow Federal, State and local government authorities to “make informed” decisions about what the visitors to Walkerville would like or wouldn’t like.
If the silent majority chose to keep their views to themselves then it is the views of minority groups that will prevail in the future. This is you chance for ownership of local issues at our beautiful Walkerville.
