‘A retreat is not a viable solution': Entire town at risk of coastal collapse after losing 25m of land over a year
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'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
6 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
NeuroScientific appoints top doctor ahead of stem cell therapy rollout
Perth-based biotech NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals' clinical arsenal has just got a heavy-hitting upgrade with the appointment of well-credentialled Perth-based paediatric haematologist and oncologist Dr Catherine Cole as its chief medical officer. The hire has come at a critical time as the company accelerates the development of its recently acquired StemSmart technology. StemSmart uses a specific type of stem cell, mesenchymal stromal stem cells (MSC), as a last-line infusion treatment for critically ill patients, including those experiencing severe immune complications from bone marrow transplants, kidney and lung transplant rejection and the inflammatory Crohn's disease. The company expects later this year to receive the interim results from its latest compassionate trial involving patients with difficult-to-treat fistulising Crohn's disease, in which an open wound develops from a gut flare-up that extends out to the skin. A successful trial will help the company validate its proprietary StemSmart technology in this patient group, who otherwise have limited treatment options. 'Cathy's vast experience and leadership will greatly strengthen our management team.' Neuroscientific Biopharmaceuticals chairman Rob McKenzie Cole brings extensive experience to the table, having held clinical and academic leadership roles across Australia and overseas, including head of haematology and oncology at Perth Children's Hospital and professor of paediatric haematology and oncology at The University of Western Australia. She is also director of stem cell transplantation at Perth Children's Hospital, placing her front and centre in NeuroScientific's race to employ stem cell therapy to treat some of the most debilitating transplant complications and autoimmune diseases. The seasoned physician has additionally served on ethics committees and worked closely with national and international regulators, a skillset the company hopes will prove instrumental as it seeks regulatory approvals for StemSmart in Australia and abroad. NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals chairman Rob McKenzie said: ' We are very fortunate that Cathy is joining at this key time in the company's evolution. Her vast experience and leadership will greatly strengthen our management team as we progress our SAS fistulas in Crohn's program and make plans for future growth.'
The Age
6 hours ago
- The Age
NeuroScientific appoints top doctor ahead of stem cell therapy rollout
Perth-based biotech NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals' clinical arsenal has just got a heavy-hitting upgrade with the appointment of well-credentialled Perth-based paediatric haematologist and oncologist Dr Catherine Cole as its chief medical officer. The hire has come at a critical time as the company accelerates the development of its recently acquired StemSmart technology. StemSmart uses a specific type of stem cell, mesenchymal stromal stem cells (MSC), as a last-line infusion treatment for critically ill patients, including those experiencing severe immune complications from bone marrow transplants, kidney and lung transplant rejection and the inflammatory Crohn's disease. The company expects later this year to receive the interim results from its latest compassionate trial involving patients with difficult-to-treat fistulising Crohn's disease, in which an open wound develops from a gut flare-up that extends out to the skin. A successful trial will help the company validate its proprietary StemSmart technology in this patient group, who otherwise have limited treatment options. 'Cathy's vast experience and leadership will greatly strengthen our management team.' Neuroscientific Biopharmaceuticals chairman Rob McKenzie Cole brings extensive experience to the table, having held clinical and academic leadership roles across Australia and overseas, including head of haematology and oncology at Perth Children's Hospital and professor of paediatric haematology and oncology at The University of Western Australia. She is also director of stem cell transplantation at Perth Children's Hospital, placing her front and centre in NeuroScientific's race to employ stem cell therapy to treat some of the most debilitating transplant complications and autoimmune diseases. The seasoned physician has additionally served on ethics committees and worked closely with national and international regulators, a skillset the company hopes will prove instrumental as it seeks regulatory approvals for StemSmart in Australia and abroad. NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals chairman Rob McKenzie said: ' We are very fortunate that Cathy is joining at this key time in the company's evolution. Her vast experience and leadership will greatly strengthen our management team as we progress our SAS fistulas in Crohn's program and make plans for future growth.'
West Australian
7 hours ago
- West Australian
Neuroscientific appoints top doctor ahead of stem cell therapy rollout
Perth-based biotech Neuroscientific Biopharmaceuticals' clinical arsenal has just got a heavy-hitting upgrade with the appointment of well-credentialled Perth-based paediatric haematologist and oncologist Dr Catherine Cole as its chief medical officer. The hire has come at a critical time as the company accelerates the development of its recently acquired StemSmart technology. StemSmart uses a specific type of stem cell, mesenchymal stromal stem cells (MSC), as a last-line infusion treatment for critically ill patients, including those experiencing severe immune complications from bone marrow transplants, kidney and lung transplant rejection and the inflammatory Crohn's disease. The company expects later this year to receive the interim results from its latest compassionate trial involving patients with difficult-to-treat fistulising Crohn's disease, in which an open wound develops from a gut flare-up that extends out to the skin. A successful trial will help the company validate its proprietary StemSmart technology in this patient group, who otherwise have limited treatment options. Cole brings extensive experience to the table, having held clinical and academic leadership roles across Australia and overseas, including head of haematology and oncology at Perth Children's Hospital and professor of paediatric haematology and oncology at The University of Western Australia. She is also director of stem cell transplantation at Perth Children's Hospital, placing her front and centre in Neuroscientific's race to employ stem cell therapy to treat some of the most debilitating transplant complications and autoimmune diseases. The seasoned physician has additionally served on ethics committees and worked closely with national and international regulators, a skillset the company hopes will prove instrumental as it seeks regulatory approvals for StemSmart in Australia and abroad. Commenting on her new role, Dr Cole said she was excited to help expand access to life-changing treatments, adding that the MSC therapy has been shown to modulate the immune system, reduce inflammation, promote immune tolerance and speed up tissue repair in some immune-related diseases. She noted the clinical results so far for StemSmart in patients with immune-mediated disorders have been highly effective, and that the growing global momentum around stem cell therapies demonstrated that the sector's therapeutic potential could be invaluable. 'I look forward to helping expand access to life-changing therapy for patients affected by a range of immune and inflammatory disorders,' Cole said. The MSCs used in StemSmart were pioneered over the past 20 years by Perth haematology medical scientist Dr Marian Sturm, NeuroScientific's incoming chief scientific officer, in her former role as facility director of Royal Perth Hospital's Cell and Tissue Therapies centre. It offers a step up from traditional MSC manufacturing in that the cells are grown in a special media, becoming activated in the process. The platform technology was developed at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) and manufactured using RPH's processes. The cells have been used many times over the years via early phase clinical trials, studies and on compassionate grounds, with promising results. If NeuroScientific's latest special access scheme (SAS) trial pans out, the company plans to escalate into phase 1/2 clinical trials as it sets its sights on obtaining the regulatory and funding approvals required for a full-scale rollout. For now, all eyes are on the fistulising Crohn's data and the company's clinical and regulatory push. With Sturm and Cole holding its scientific and clinical reins, Neuroscientific can gear up to play in the big biotech league. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact:
