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Coastal councils in panic about erosion

Lucy JarvisWanneroo Times

THE WA Local Government Association believes State and Federal governments should take more responsibility for coastal erosion challenges.

More than 200 WALGA members supported a motion by Gingin Councillor Jan Court at the AGM on August 7 to advocate on the increasing challenges facing coastal councils.

They want a national funding formula to maintain the coast, extra State grants and a coordinated approach to managing the coast.

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They also want more funding for climate science research programs to ensure there was guidance on responding to coastal hazards.

Gingin Council has faced severe erosion issues in Lancelin and Seabird in recent years, and Cr Court said all levels of government needed to be on the same page when it came to managing the issue.

“It’s pretty clear all the coastal councils are in a bit of a panic about it,” seconder and Melville Deputy Mayor Tim Barling said.

The decision followed Premier Mark McGowan’s call for more Federal support and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti’s announcement of $1.5 million funding for coastal projects on Monday, August 5.

At the WALGA AGM, Opposition Leader Liza Harvey said the State Government’s coastal erosion report identified 55 hot spots and the need for $110 million to remediate those.

Ms Harvey said the responsibility of dealing with the problem had fallen to local governments because erosion affected their infrastructure, such as paths and roads.

In the latest round of Coastal Adaptation and Protection Grants, the Shire of Gingin will receive $29,305 for a coastal inundation study.

Quinns Beach.
Camera IconQuinns Beach. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

The City of Wanneroo will get three grants totalling $410,000 to upgrade a Quinns Beach groyne, add sand to Quinns and Yanchep beaches and do an aerial survey of its 32km coastline.

“These grants represent almost 40 per cent of the $1,056,540 CAP Grant funding available for the whole of WA and demonstrate the State Government’s commitment to working with the City to protect our precious coastline,” Mayor Tracey Roberts said.

“The City has also committed $2.4 million of its 2019-20 capital works budget to coastal management works across its most vulnerable beaches.”

The City of Joondalup received almost $100,000 for sand bypassing and coastal monitoring programs.

Find more grant recipients here.

Mayor receives WALGA life membership