Shire calls off costly repairs to Anastasia

Costly repairs to a tidal rock pool shattered by waves have been abandoned by the Shire of Broome.

Anastasia's Pool at Gantheaume Point was a popular tourist attraction in Broome but it succumbed to storms and heavy seas in January and fell apart.

The natural structure was modified by former lighthouse keeper Patrick Percy, who concreted the base so his arthritic wife Anastasia could exercise.

Shire engineers carried out a structural inspection of the site a day after the _Broome Adverti _ _ser _ broke the story on January 30.

"The cost to undertake repairs to Anastasia's Pool is significant, and any repairs would be inconsistent with the character of the natural location," a council report stated.

"It is recommended that the pool be abandoned and appropriate signage be installed to highlight to historical significance."

Even though the pool was popular among visitors and tourists, it was never included on the Shire of Broome Heritage Register.

It is located above the mean high-tide level (outside the intertidal zone) and forms part of the Yawuru in Town Conservation Estate, which is controlled by the Yawuru Park Council.

A risk assessment will now be undertaken to ensure the area is safe for community use because of the high volume of foot traffic.

Shire president Graeme Campbell said while it was disappointing, he was not prepared to see hundreds of thousands of ratepayer dollars spent on a risky repair project.

"The engineering alone would be very difficult and would involve significant interference to rocks and areas surrounding the pool just to get the machinery in to move five tonne boulders and place them in position," he said.

"It would probably create more damage to the surrounding area than the pool itself."

It is recommended that the pool be abandoned and appropriate signage be installed to highlight to historical significance.