❓ Mr Love raises concerns about coastal erosion at Lancelin and requests funding for local governments. The Deputy Premier acknowledges the issue, highlights past actions, and points to shared responsibility with the federal government, but makes no firm funding commitment.
AnsweredQoN 128Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Coastal erosion
128. Mr Shane Love to the Deputy Premier:
I refer to the
emerging erosion issues at Lancelin's north end, threatening residents and
businesses, and the urgent need for support for local governments and
communities along the Western Australian coast similarly at threat.
(1) Will the Deputy Premier commit to supporting
the Shire of Gingin as it battles the threat to Lancelin?
(2) Will the Deputy Premier commit to including
Western Australian Local Government Association's request that the CoastWA
program be extended and funding of at least $150 million over the next five
years to treat both erosion and inundation be included in the upcoming state
budget?
128. Mr Shane Love to the Deputy Premier:
I refer to the
emerging erosion issues at Lancelin's north end, threatening residents and
businesses, and the urgent need for support for local governments and
communities along the Western Australian coast similarly at threat.
(1) Will the Deputy Premier commit to supporting
the Shire of Gingin as it battles the threat to Lancelin?
(2) Will the Deputy Premier commit to including
Western Australian Local Government Association's request that the CoastWA
program be extended and funding of at least $150 million over the next five
years to treat both erosion and inundation be included in the upcoming state
budget?
AnswerView source ↗
(1) Thank you for that question. Of course,
coastal erosion is something that we have been working on across government and
that is through both the planning portfolio and transport portfolio. Some of
the key integral work that we have undertaken over the last eight years was
mapping of the key hotspots across the state. A mapping report released now two
years ago, I think, highlighted some of the most vulnerable parts of the state.
One of the other issues we did is
we wrote to the federal government, and again we will take this up with the
federal government, too, because coastal erosion is something that happens
across the nation. We have seen what has happened particularly on the New South
Wales coast where a lot of properties and housing is next to the shoreline. We
believe there needs to be a national solution or national funding to support
local governments and state governments in delivering different solutions.
The reality is there are
differing views about what we should do about coastal erosion. There are some
who say retreat. Where we do not have infrastructure, like roads and parks,
homes and caravan parks, that is something that some people would support. But
where we have a lot of community infrastructure and in particular where we have
caravan parks, roads and so forth, it is about how we can reinforce that coast.
That is not easy. There have been a lot of mistakes in the past, and I think in
Geraldton there are some examples of where if we try to reinforce one section,
it creates a problem along other parts of the coast. So that is the complexity.
(2) In relation to the
funding, there are a number of different funding rounds, which include those
issued through the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage and
Department of Transport. We continue to look at funding local governments in
those rounds, and there will be upcoming rounds of funds that the shire can
apply for. Again, we have been working really constructively. A lot of it is
also down to what I think is called the Coastal Hazard Risk Management and
Adaptation Plan (CHRMAP). That is always a contentious issue because there is a
lot of debate about that mapping, because sometimes the maps show that there
are a lot of areas that are vulnerable, so a lot of councils get a lot of local
resistance and a lot of local feedback, which then impacts some people's
ability to get insurance, so it is quite a complicated matter.
As I said, since 2017, we have
invested almost $27 million under the lands and planning portfolio. We will
continue to look to support local governments as they battle this issue that is
a nationwide issue, but there are 55 hotspots that were determined in 2019.
coastal erosion is something that we have been working on across government and
that is through both the planning portfolio and transport portfolio. Some of
the key integral work that we have undertaken over the last eight years was
mapping of the key hotspots across the state. A mapping report released now two
years ago, I think, highlighted some of the most vulnerable parts of the state.
One of the other issues we did is
we wrote to the federal government, and again we will take this up with the
federal government, too, because coastal erosion is something that happens
across the nation. We have seen what has happened particularly on the New South
Wales coast where a lot of properties and housing is next to the shoreline. We
believe there needs to be a national solution or national funding to support
local governments and state governments in delivering different solutions.
The reality is there are
differing views about what we should do about coastal erosion. There are some
who say retreat. Where we do not have infrastructure, like roads and parks,
homes and caravan parks, that is something that some people would support. But
where we have a lot of community infrastructure and in particular where we have
caravan parks, roads and so forth, it is about how we can reinforce that coast.
That is not easy. There have been a lot of mistakes in the past, and I think in
Geraldton there are some examples of where if we try to reinforce one section,
it creates a problem along other parts of the coast. So that is the complexity.
(2) In relation to the
funding, there are a number of different funding rounds, which include those
issued through the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage and
Department of Transport. We continue to look at funding local governments in
those rounds, and there will be upcoming rounds of funds that the shire can
apply for. Again, we have been working really constructively. A lot of it is
also down to what I think is called the Coastal Hazard Risk Management and
Adaptation Plan (CHRMAP). That is always a contentious issue because there is a
lot of debate about that mapping, because sometimes the maps show that there
are a lot of areas that are vulnerable, so a lot of councils get a lot of local
resistance and a lot of local feedback, which then impacts some people's
ability to get insurance, so it is quite a complicated matter.
As I said, since 2017, we have
invested almost $27 million under the lands and planning portfolio. We will
continue to look to support local governments as they battle this issue that is
a nationwide issue, but there are 55 hotspots that were determined in 2019.
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