‘A retreat is not a viable solution’: Entire town at risk of coastal collapse after losing 25m of land over a year

An entire Aussie town is at risk of being completely washed away by aggressive coastal erosion, which has stripped more than 25m of land over the past year and put homes and lives at risk. The scenic coastal town of Lancelin is in crisis, with locals saying more than 10m of land has vanished since May due to the erosion process. In some of the worst-hit parts of the coastline, more than 25 metres have been lost over the past year. The once-popular fishing and holiday destination, located 125km north of Perth, is now fighting to hold onto what remains of its beachfront. Glen Trebilcock, owner of the Lancelin Sands Hotel, has launched a petition calling on the Western Australian Government to provide immediate emergency funding and technical support. “Without immediate intervention, the safety of the foreshore and the integrity of essential coastal infrastructure remain at serious risk,” he said. “We strongly believe that a retreat is not a viable solution.” The petition, signed by more than 900 people, was submitted to the WA Legislative Council. “The Shire of Gingin, as a small regional local government, has a limited rate base and lacks the technical capacity and financial resources required to effectively manage and mitigate the impacts of this erosion,” the petition said. “We therefore ask the Legislative Council to urge the State Government to support the Shire of Gingin and community of Lancelin with emergency funding and specialist technical assistance in response to this urgent and unforeseen environmental challenge.” Shire of Gingin President Linda Balcombe has also appealed directly to WA Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti, though she says the shire has yet to receive a response. “We’re not asking for millions of dollars at the moment, we’re just asking for a little bit of financial assistance,” Ms Balcombe told 7News. “We’re a very small shire with only about 6000 ratepayers and we’ve got a big coastline that we have to protect.” Tourism, a key part of the local economy, is also suffering. Mr Trebilcock told 7News six tour groups that once passed through daily have now stopped coming altogether. A popular seaside lookout near his hotel is also scheduled for demolition next week due to safety concerns. The WA Government told 7NEWS it is “aware of the issues and is actively looking at options to assist”.