The ocean is swallowing this WA town. It’s taking Jan and Gary’s business with it

Exlusive: A WA caravan park teetering on the edge of the ocean is in danger of being swallowed entirely by the shoreline after a series of winter storm surges.

Jan and Gary Screaigh have owned Lancelin North End Caravan Park in the small tourist town for 42 years.

Do you have a story? Contact reporter April Glover at april.glover@nine.com.au

Their business is struggling against the same severe coastal erosion that is threatening to wipe out a popular pub.

While Lancelin Sands Hotel owner Glenn Trebilock desperately raised $150,000 to save his establishment from being washed away, the couple’s caravan park is facing a similar disaster.

Their daughter Sheree O’Neil said the erosion could slowly destroy her family’s livelihood after it carved out over 30 metres of sand in under three years.

“We’re facing losing not only mum and dad’s property, but the whole town really is looking at being washed away,” O’Neil told nine.com.au.

“It’s a very low-lying town and once the water comes in, it’s not going to stop in a hurry.”

Several recent storm surges have brought the erosion to crisis point.

The crumbling coast has already stripped away a chunk of the Screaigh’s land.

The public footpath in front of the pristine beach has been partly washed away too, while the pub – which is almost the same distance away as the caravan park – has just metres to spare.

Several recent storm surges have brought the erosion to crisis point, eroding the coastline to a level the council had expected in 2050.

Residents say an emergency, permanent seawall is the only solution.

A fundraiser has already attracted over $85,000 in donations to save the fore-dune in front of the Lancelin Sands Hotel.

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“The local council has been at the park, putting rocks and sands there to try and stop it, but that’s only a temporary fix,” O’Neil added.

“It is restricting mum and dad from any future development of their park, at the moment they’re not allowed to do anything because this coastal erosion keeps coming closer and closer.”

Lancelin resident Mike Duxbury said part of the town is in danger of being “inundated” with ocean water if the temporary seawall breaks.

He warned the residents may only have a matter of months before homes near the shoreline are destroyed.

“A report was commissioned by the council a few years ago which said Lancelin was in danger of being inundated by 2070,” Duxbury said.

“But it looks like it could happen much sooner than that.”

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Locals blame dune mining

O’Neil and Duxbury both say the coast deterioration has been hurried along by heavy dune mining in Lancelin.

Limesand mining has been taking place in the town for decades and an estimated 200,000 to 400,000 tonnes of sand are mined at the beach every year.

The dunes are a popular spot for tourists and locals alike but are hardly recognisable from the towering natural phenomenon they once were.

Locals have previously banded together to save Lancelin’s disappearing dunes from extinction.

“I fully believe that the sand dunes have played a huge part in the coastal erosion,” O’Neil added.

“That mining needs to be stopped immediately, so that then they can then tackle this coastal erosion.

“It is a catastrophe waiting to happen.”

Council attempts to fast-track government help

The Shire of Gingin held a Special Council Meeting on June 30 to urgently address the “rapid coastal erosion” in Lancelin.

Council officers have attempted to secure state government disaster funding to devise a long-term solution.

“Urgent and serious consideration at the Ministerial level is required, and the Shire is committed to being a willing and proactive partner in that conversation,” the council said.

“The Shire stands ready to work collaboratively and constructively with the state government and all relevant agencies to develop and implement pragmatic, effective, and long-term solutions to this serious issue.”

Council officers have installed rock bags and hosted a sand nourishment program to deliver 7000 cubic metres of sand as a temporary measure to protect the Lancelin coastline.

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A spokesperson for the council said it acknowledges the “range of views within the community regarding the factors contributing to coastal erosion in the area and potential management responses”.

“The causes of coastal erosion are complex and require assessment based on scientific evidence and expert technical advice,” the spokesperson said.

“The shire is actively working with the relevant state agencies and coastal experts to better understand the issue and identify appropriate management responses.”