SW residents' 'let down' over erosion
Wonnerup Residents Association chairwoman Judy Clarke believes locals have been let down by the City of Busselton and the Department of Transport over ongoing problems with beach erosion.
Ms Clarke pointed to storms at the weekend to highlight erosion was still being caused in Wonnerup as a result of the Port Geographe marina, despite the completion of the new groyne configuration.
She said the erosion had only worsened over the past three years after the Department of Transport failed to continue sand bypassing.
"The sand bypassing was reduced each year since 2010 and then cancelled altogether in 2012, which is ludicrous," she said. "I have been screaming and jumping up and down for months, but it's just too desperate now and we need to act and act fast before it gets any worse."
In 2011, the Department of Transport took over maintenance to fix the erosion after the company steering the Port Geographe Development went into liquidation.
Department of Transport coastal infrastructure acting general manager Donna West said the department bypassed sand to Wonnerup from September to November in 2012.
"The department commenced the Port Geographe Coastal Reconfiguration in July 2013, and during the project additional sand was added to Wonnerup beach," she said.
"This recent erosion does not pose an imminent threat to critical infrastructure or significant environmental areas.
"However, the department is closely monitoring the areas adjacent to Port Geographe and will respond as necessary to any potential impacts of the newly reconfigured streamlined structures within the overall context of natural coastal processes."
City director of finance and corporate services Matthew Smith said for several years the City had undertaken work, including sand bypassing and beach nourishment, despite the fact they were not legally obliged to do so.
"In recent years the City has worked with the State to address the most fundamental issue behind the stalled development, being the alignment of the groynes and the resultant sea wrack build up to the west of the marina entry and beach erosion to the east," he said.
"The City remains concerned about Wonnerup Beach and respectfully refutes any suggestion that we have failed to act in the best interests of Wonnerup residents.
"In particular, the City remains ready to take protective action, as it would in relation to any coastal location across the district, should this be necessary during winter months."
