Anita McInnes
COMMUNITY information drop-in sessions about the Shire of Gingin’s proposed coastal management strategy for coastal areas facing erosion and flooding will be held in Lancelin on August 12 and in Seabird on August 19.
The coastal management strategy (CMS) outlines the shire’s response to its coastal hazard risk management and adaptation plan (CHRMAP), which identifies areas in the shire that could potentially be affected by storm events and projected sea level rise over the next 100 years.
A Shire of Gingin Coastal management on the Gingin coastline report (June 2023) says some of the shire’s coastline that will become vulnerable over the next 100 years includes beaches, access ways, footpaths, carparks, toilets, roads and public open space areas.
“This document provides a summary of the short-term management actions to be undertaken,’’ the Coastal management on the Gingin coastline report says.
“These are largely focused on ‘behind the scenes’ actions to better prepare the shire for future coastal hazard management.
“Long term, adaptation strategies such as protection or managed retreat will be required when coastal hazards occur.’’
In August 2019 Yanchep News Online reported that the Seabird foreshore had been identified as an erosion hotspot with public and private assets likely affected and requiring management and adaptation or action in the next 25 years.
The three Gingin areas, which also included Ledge Point and Grace Darling Park in Lancelin, were among the 15 Perth metropolitan and 40 regional spots identified in the Assessment of Coastal Erosion Hotspots in Western Australia report released in August 2019.
According to the Assessment of Coastal Erosion Hotspots in Western Australia report as far back as the early 1970s the Town Planning Department’s coastal townsites committee recommended against further development of Seabird saying it should be limited to licensed fishermen only due to its vulnerability to erosion and wave action.
In August 2020, the shire was successful in obtaining funding through the 2020-21 coastal management plan assistance program (CMPAP) grants program to bolster the 2019 CHRMAP to include the Guilderton coastline and integrate it with an inundation study completed the same year.
The Coastal management on the Gingin coastline report says there are no legal obligation on the state or local governments to protect private assets within coastal hazard areas, or to compensate for any losses incurred due to coastal hazards.
“Should damaged assets pose a risk to public safety, removal may be required,’’ the Coastal management on the Gingin coastline report says.
The report said when the initial assessments began, erosion was a major concern, because the Lancelin community could see the day-to-day impacts on some of the most highly valued locations, including Grace Darling Park and the volunteer sea rescue facility.
“Cardno 2019 preferenced a retreat option, but did allow for investigating seawalls and/or groynes to manage this impact.
“The Baird 2020 study identified more clearly a different and, realistically, more significant impact; which is flooding.
“The likelihood of inundation in large parts of the town – from flood waters coming from the sea – results in most of the town becoming vulnerable at high or very high levels within 50 years (2070).’’
The locations and their level of predicted vulnerability at 2040, 2070 and 2110 are illustrated in the Coastal management on the Gingin coastline report and other documents are available here
A community information drop-in session will be held from 10am to 12.30pm on Saturday, August 12 at Wangaree Community Centre, 131 Gingin Rd, Lancelin.
On Saturday, August 19 another community information drop-in session will be held at Seabird Hall, Chalon Avenue, Seabird from 10am to 12.30pm.
