Coastal erosion forces much-needed infrastructure to be demolished in Western Australia

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Residents in the small WA town of Lancelin are reeling with coastal erosion forcing the demolition of the much-loved ocean lookout. It's a similar story playing out in other beachside towns across WA's mid-west region. As vicious ocean tides threaten to destroy millions of dollars’ worth of infrastructure.

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00:00It was a place of significance for locals, but now memories shared at the Lancelin Lookout

00:09will crumble away.

00:10It's the only place you can go where you've got a magic 360 view.

00:16It's terrible.

00:17Never expected this sort of event to happen.

00:21Built in 2018 for a quarter of a million dollars, the structure is the latest victim

00:26of the coastal incursion.

00:27I wish you could save it.

00:29This is just going to make us realize what we can lose if we don't look after it.

00:34As the Lancelin community reels from losing its iconic landmark, about 230 kilometers further

00:42north, another town is under threat.

00:45It's around 30 to 40 million dollars worth of public infrastructure, which is our rec center,

00:51aged care units, skate park, pump track, roads, car parts, etc.

00:55So significant value of assets that are under threat.

00:58Mark Leonard is trying to protect Port Denison before it's too late.

01:02It needs to be done before your buildings are falling into the ocean, not while they're

01:07falling into the ocean.

01:08In neighboring Geraldton, the impact's already been felt.

01:11Last year, the Marine Rescue Building was demolished just eight years after it reopened.

01:17Experts warn battling erosion in WA is complex.

01:22It's a very long coastline, sparsely populated and very complex with a lot of limestone rock

01:28and cliffs and reefs.

01:30And every side is different, so every side needs to have a tailored approach as well.

01:34A battle for the coast that's getting harder to win.

01:37A battle for the coast that's getting harder to win.

01:38A battle for the coast is completely different, so it's completely different.

01:39But it also means that the coast of växer is in the same state, the coast of the coast,

01:40the coast, the coast, the coast records, the coast, the coasts, the coast, and the coast.

01:42And the coast is a big part of the coast in the sea.

01:43You

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