3 days ago
Coastal erosion forces demolition of popular Lancelin lookout in WA
Demolition work is underway to remove a lookout in Western Australia that has become synonymous with 360-degree views, sunsets and marriage proposals.
It comes after coastal erosion in Lancelin, on state's Midwest coast, put the structure at risk of crumbling into the ocean.
Lancelin, about 125 kilometres north of Perth, is home to fewer than 1,000 residents but swells to up 5,000 with tourists during the holiday season.
Peter Murphy has lived in Lancelin for over a decade and is on the town's District Community Association.
The association was the driving force behind building the lookout in 2019.
Mr Murphy said the $245,000 jointly funded lookout became iconic for the town.
"It's the only place [in Lancelin] with a magic 360-degree view," Mr Murphy said.
"People congregate on the lookout with a glass of wine and a deck chair to watch the [New Year's Eve] fireworks."
But the decision to remove the lookout before it crumbled away did not feel real to Mr Murphy.
"It's terrible, we never expected this sort of event to happen," he said.
"I think I, amongst other people, have in mind that this is temporary and we will get the lookout back."
Gingin Shire president Linda Balcombe said the removal of Lancelin's lookout would be emotional for many people.
"I've been really sad about this whole thing, I wish we could save it," she said.
"I think it will make us realise what we can lose if we don't look after it."
Last month, council sounded the alarm on coastal erosion as predicted strong winter tides were putting homes and businesses at risk.
Following ABC coverage of the damage erosion was causing Lancelin, the state government funded $150,000 to build a natural coastal barrier, designed to protect a local hotel for another few years once in place.
But Ms Balcombe said she felt not everyone understood the constant threat erosion posed to coastal communities.
"I don't think people understand enough what's been happening up and down the coast," she said.
"Some [residents] are quite surprised [at the erosion] and others will say it's cyclic and the beach will come back.
"And I understand that, but at the moment it's a concern."
Just under a three-hour drive north of Lancelin, the town of Port Denison has the same battle.
Six years ago, the shire worked with state government to control erosion in the area with stabilised earth procedures, which mixed existing beach sand with water and cement.
But Irwin Shire President Mark Leonard said a stretch of 600 metres was now at risk of eroding away.
"Behind that 600m stretch is around $40 million worth of public infrastructure, which is our rec centre, pump track, aged care units, roads, car parks," he said.
In July last year, extreme coastal erosion forced the demolition of Geraldton's marine rescue building, which cost $880,000 to reopen in 2016.
The shoreline of Point Moore, where the building sat, was lost to vicious waves rapidly.
Seeing what had happened in Geraldton and now Lancelin, Mr Leonard said further mitigation works were needed in Port Denison before it was too late.
University of WA coastal engineering professor Arnold Van Rooijen said shoreline erosion was not a new issue for sites along the state's coast.
"We see around some of these shorelines that have features that stick out into the ocean … nature essentially wanting to straighten the coastline," Dr Van Rooijen said.
"So it's quite common around the world and Australia to see areas experience ongoing retreat."
But Dr Van Rooijen said large coastal infrastructure like ports influenced coastal processes with "erosion on one side and accretion on the other".
He said although contributions to erosion along the coast had recurring themes, a holistic approach was needed to minimise impacts.
"[WA] os a very long coastline, it's sparsely populated and very complex with a lot of limestone … cliffs and marine ecosystems," Dr Van Rooijen said.
"I think governments are working very hard to deal with this issue, but it's definitely not straightforward and every site needs a tailored approach."
