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Perth Now
21-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Entire WA town could be washed away, homes & lives at risk
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.' Locals say the coastline of Lancelin, north of Perth, is at risk of disappearing. 7News Credit: Supplied Lancelin Sands Hotel owner Glen Trevilcock is worried about the coastal erosion impacting his hotel. 7News Credit: Supplied 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.' Locals are pushing for the state government to assist. 7News Credit: Supplied 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'.
Time of India
20-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Retreat not an option: Entire town may collapse as erosion devours Western Australia coast
The coastal community of Lancelin, which was once a thriving fishing village and tourism hotspot 125 kilometers north of Perth but is now staring down a catastrophic environmental collapse. Aggressive coastal erosion has stripped more than 25 metres of land in just 12 months, leaving homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure hanging by a thread. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Locals say over 10 metres of shoreline has disappeared since May alone, and a popular beachfront lookout is now set to be demolished within days due to imminent safety risks. The crisis has left residents reeling and demanding immediate intervention from the Western Australian Government , as the erosion threatens to wipe the town off the map. 'Without immediate intervention, the safety of the foreshore and the integrity of essential coastal infrastructure remain at serious risk,' said Glen Trebilcock, owner of the Lancelin Sands Hotel and the face of a growing grassroots campaign to save the town. Trevilcock has launched a petition now signed by over 900 residents, urging the state to deliver emergency funding and deploy technical experts to help shore up what's left of the crumbling coastline. Live Events 'Retreat is not an option' Residents have made one thing clear that relocation is off the table. 'We strongly believe that a retreat is not a viable solution,' Trebilcock told CNN. 'We've lost our beach. We're losing our economy. Now we're losing our town.' The petition has been submitted to the WA Legislative Council, citing the limited capacity of the Shire of Gingin , which governs Lancelin. With just 6,000 ratepayers and a vast stretch of coastline to protect, the small regional government says it is powerless without state support. 'We're not asking for millions of dollars,' said Shire President Linda Balcombe. 'We're just asking for a little bit of financial assistance to address this emergency before it's too late.' Balcombe says she's personally reached out to Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti, but weeks later, the shire has yet to receive a formal response. The erosion has had a crippling economic ripple effect. Tourism, a lifeline for many small businesses, is drying up. According to Trebilcock, six daily tour groups have ceased visiting, and several visitors have canceled bookings citing safety concerns. 'The lookout is about to collapse. That was one of our main attractions,' Trebilcock said. 'Now it's being demolished. The message that send? Stay away.' Government response In a statement to 7News, the WA Government said it is 'aware of the issues and is actively looking at options to assist.' However, locals say words are not enough. They want action, funding, and an immediate deployment of engineers to evaluate and secure the coastline before the damage becomes irreversible. 'This is not a slow-moving issue,' Balcombe warned. 'It's happening now, every week, every storm, we lose more land.' FAQs Where is Lancelin? Lancelin is a coastal town located 125km north of Perth, Western Australia. What's happening? The town is experiencing unprecedented coastal erosion, and over 25 metres of shoreline have been lost in one year. What are the risks? Homes, roads, and key infrastructure are now dangerously close to collapse. A seaside lookout is scheduled for demolition. Is the government responding? The WA Government says it's exploring options, but residents and local officials are demanding urgent action.
Perth Now
20-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Fears entire town could be washed away
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.' Locals say the coastline of Lancelin, north of Perth, is at risk of disappearing. 7News Credit: Supplied Lancelin Sands Hotel owner Glen Trevilcock is worried about the coastal erosion impacting his hotel. 7News Credit: Supplied 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.' Locals are pushing for the state government to assist. 7News Credit: Supplied 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'.
