State must save Seabird: residents
Lands Minister Terry Redman has been handed a $1 million-plus rescue plan for Seabird that proposes an artificial reef be installed offshore.
Residents of the coastal town 100km north of Perth met Mr Redman on Friday to show him the extent of the erosion and plead for State Government funding to help fix it.
Mr Redman was also given details of a proposal devised by marine engineering group Subcon that would involve the installation of artificial “reef modules” offshore and the creation of onshore groynes through sandbagging.
The proposal, which is similar to a plan proposed for the same site in 2002 by a Government-commissioned Worley engineering report, is estimated to cost between $1 million and $1.5 million.
Seabird Progress Association president Garry Thomas said Mr Redman told residents he would raise it with Cabinet.
Mr Thomas said in the near term they wanted to find $150,000 for detailed engineering and feasibility studies.
Nationals WA Member for Moore Shane Love, who also attended the Friday meeting, said the Subcon proposal was beyond the resources of the Shire of Gingin and residents.
I think there needs to be a very strong response here because the houses of residents are at immediate risk.
“There are legal impediments to both the residents and the shire protecting this property ... the only authority that can do it is the State. I don’t know of any other situation where a person’s house can just disappear from under their feet where they have no comeback.”
Erosion has been threatening Seabird — which has about 300 ratepayers and 50 full-time residents — since 2000 when the big swells claimed part of a road.
Erosion began accelerating again last year and is within metres of several a handful of houses.
The erosion is on unallocated crown land, which falls under the State’s jurisdiction.
“I’m advocating strongly for assistance to the residents and the shire,” Mr Love said.
