The City of Wanneroo applied for two grants from the Department of Transport, receiving one for $123,000 last week. However, the department turned down its second application for $250,000 a year for four years for immediate coastal protection works.
‘I am bitterly disappointed that the government is dodging its responsibilities to our community and the environment,’ Mrs Roberts said.
Department coastal infrastructure managing director Steve Jenkins said the last round of the grants program attracted 30 applications worth almost $3 million.
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READ NOW‘Following careful consideration, 16 projects were granted a total of $1,057,500, including $123,000 for modelling at Quinns Beach as part of long-term coastal protection planning,’ he said.
‘Grants are available for monitoring, adaptation planning, asset management and maintenance projects. Only new projects are eligible and funding is not made available for work already commenced.’
Mrs Roberts said erosion was a serious problem along the coastline.
‘The City of Wanneroo has already invested more than $3 million since September last year to manage the most recent erosion,’ she said. ‘This is in addition to significant funds spent by the City to manage this section of the coastline over a number of years.’
Mrs Roberts said the City acted quickly after storm damage last year, but if it had not, essential services such as water and power could have been at risk.
‘This is not a financial burden we should be expected to shoulder alone,’ she said.
Transport Minister Dean Nalder, who visited Quinns Rocks foreshore earlier this month, announced more than $1 million of grants for local governments on July 11. ‘The City of Wanneroo received the second largest grant of $123,000 for monitoring, data collection and modelling to develop long-term coastal management options for Quinns Beach,’ Mr Nalder said. ‘The projects will provide a better understanding of coastal processes and ensure coastal assets are protected from the effects of ocean forces into the future.’ About half of the state funding will go towards projects in Busselton. North Metropolitan MLC Peter Katsambanis said residents had fought hard to make protecting Quinns Beach a priority for the local and state governments. ‘The City of Wanneroo is doing a fantastic job improving the protection of a very popular local beach,’ he said. Mr Jenkins said the department also provided technical advice trs, and would continue help the City develop a sustainable coastal management approach.