A coastal town popular with tourists for its spectacular beaches and fishing is at risk of being wiped off the map by severe erosion.
Residents of Lancelin, about 125km north of Perth, have spent years pleading for emergency intervention after their town was identified as one of 55 erosion hotspots in Western Australia in 2019.
But their desperation reached a new high after poor weather conditions exacerbated the issue with 10metres of land lost to the sea since May.
As the sand continues to fall away, thousands of locals and business owners are facing the loss of their homes and livelihoods.
Lancelin Sands Hotel owner of three years Glen Trebilcock was warned his pub, overlooking the beach, would come roughly half a metre closer to the sea each year.
However, the recent uptick in erosion has seen his business come dangerously close to the shoreline – years ahead of schedule.
‘Without immediate intervention, the safety of the foreshore and the integrity of essential coastal infrastructure remain at serious risk,’ Mr Trebilcock told 7News on Saturday.
‘We strongly believe that a retreat is not a viable solution.’
Lancelin is a coastal town that is popular among tourists
Lancelin (pictured) is in the midst of an erosion crisis with 10m of land lost to the sea since May
The recent erosion has seriously worried home and business owners (pictured, Lancelin’s coastline in May and June)
A petition for the state government to provide emergency funding and specialist technical assistance has received 800 signatures.
Gingin Shire President Linda Balcombe wrote to WA Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti on behalf of her 6,000 ratepayers, but hasn’t heard anything back.
‘We’re not asking for millions of dollars at the moment, we’re just asking for a little bit of financial assistance,’ Ms Balcombe said.
Including the massive loss of land in the last few months, Lancelin has lost more than 25metres of coastline to erosion in the last year.
The loss includes the community-built lookout which has been ruled a safety risk.
It’s set to be torn down next week after being a source of town pride for several decades.
The crisis is already affecting the town’s tourist market.
‘Six tour companies that used to come through every day, they’ve all disappeared. They bypass and they just go directly up to Jurien (Bay),’ Mr Trebilcock said.
Lancelin Sands Hotel owner Glen Trebilcock (pictured) claimed locals don’t want to leave the town, saying ‘retreat is not a viable solution’
Community leaders are Lancelin (pictured) called for the government to send financial and specialist assistance
Former WA opposition leader Shane Love has repeatedly called for government intervention.
‘North Lancelin erosion demands urgent action,’ he said last week.
‘I raised a grievance in Parliament on May 22, and followed up again in Budget Estimates a fortnight ago – and still no action from the Minister.
‘I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the State Government must step up with emergency funding and a rapid response.’
The WA Government told 7News it is ‘aware of the issues and is actively looking at options to assist’.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the state government for further comment.
