Fears king tide could inundate WA's Lancelin as council sounds alarm on coastal erosion
Lancelin, 125 kilometres north of Perth, is home to fewer than 1,000 people, but its picturesque sand dunes and beaches attract thousands of tourists each year.
But while the town's inland dunes are famous for four-wheel driving and sand boarding, residents say the dunes closer to the coast have been steadily eroded by the ocean.
With the town itself sitting below sea level, locals are concerned the combination of winter weather and forecast high tide could put their homes and businesses at risk.
Glenn Trebilcock moved to Lancelin just over two years ago, hoping to spend the rest of his life running the beachfront Sands Hotel.
Mr Trebilcock said he had lost 25 to 30 metres of beachfront to erosion since his arrival.
"Everyone knows that the ocean's very cyclic, but not at this ferocity and rapid erosion rate," Mr Trebilcock said.
Anxious about his business, Mr Trebilcock started a petition calling on the government for assistance.
Within 24 hours, more than 200 people had signed in support.
"It's my livelihood, it's my business, home and community," he said.
Gary Screaigh has owned the Lancelin North End Caravan Park for 42 years and said he noticed the ocean getting more turbulent.
"You can nearly surf on the beach here at times, whereas before the ocean's always been very placid," he said.
But Mr Screaigh said he was not worried about the impact erosion might have on him.
"I suppose it would be different if I was just beginning something, but I'm towards the end of my life," he said.
Gingin shire president Linda Balcombe said damage to Lancelin's coastal barrier had become worse.
"We've lost some shire infrastructure, which is in front of the hotel and it's moved at quite an aggressive rate," she said.
The council has engaged coastal engineers and the Department of Transport for advice.
Ms Balcombe said the engineers warned her of a predicted king tide, expected in August, which could pose serious risk to the whole town.
Advice included the construction of a fresh dune at a 45-degree angle to the hotel and caravan park.
The Bureau of Meteorology said while it was not a scientific term, a king tide described a "remarkably high tide".
A BOM spokesperson said its tide predictions forecast some larger tides at Lancelin during August, but not the largest of the year.
"If the king tide comes and we haven't got anything in place, we're not sure what damage could happen," Ms Balcombe said.
"That could create inundation into the town and especially the caravan park.
"It would also be devastating for the hotel … I'd hate to think it would be in danger of being closed down."
The scope of works was expected to cost the shire $150,000, but Ms Balcombe said red tape around government funding had left them in the lurch.
Ms Balcombe said she had yet to receive a response from WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti.
In the state parliament last week, Midwest MP Shane Love, who represents Lancelin, asked Ms Saffioti to state her position on redirecting the funding.
Ms Saffioti confirmed Ms Balcombe's letter had been received and was "working to provide an answer" in relation to the switching of the funds.
Asked if there was any provision for additional funding in cases like Lancelin, Ms Saffioti referenced disaster relief funding where shires could apply after they lost infrastructure to natural disasters.
"But Lancelin is not yet flooded," Mr Love said.
Coastal oceanography professor Charitha Pattiaratchi said a sand dune would be a temporary fix, because Lancelin was built on an eroding coastline.
"It's a thorny problem because to save our coast is going to cost a lot of money," he said.
"In some places, we actually have to make the decision that this is not cost-effective to try to save this part of the beach and we have to let the natural process take over.
"So that's the question, what do we save and what do we let go?"
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