City response to Parliamentary comments regarding coastal erosion

On Thursday 19 September 2024 the Member for Carine, Mr Paul Lilburne MLA, raised a grievance within the Western Australian Parliament citing the City of Stirling’s failure to implement coastal erosion mitigation strategies at Watermans Bay.
 
The grievance related to a petition Mr Lilburne himself presented to the Legislative Assembly in September 2023, asking the Legislative Assembly to engage with the City of Stirling for a permanent solution to the problems of erosion at Watermans Bay.
 
It is disappointing that in the 12 months since presenting the petition, Mr Lilburne has opted to escalate this matter without any engagement with the City.
 
Mayor Irwin said that throughout his term as Member for Carine since 2021, Mr Lilburne had not effectively engaged with the City on any matters of community interest or Council jurisdiction.
 
“Mr Lilburne has not taken the time to understand the coastal erosion mitigation planning and works being implemented, many of which are being undertaken in collaboration with the State Government.  Nor has Mr Lilburne invited the City to participate in any of the public meetings or forums he has referred to. 
 
“Contrary to Mr Lilburne’s inaction, the Member for Scarborough Mr Stuart Aubrey MLA, has proactively engaged with the City on behalf of the local community, including joint-funding of retention works and a new water access ramp at Mettams Pool which was completed in July 2024.”
 
Sea-level rise and associated coastal hazards such as storm erosion, coastal inundation and shoreline recession are affecting coastal communities across Australia with a whole of government approach required to effectively manage this issue.  The City fully understands the community value and ecological importance of our 7km stretch of coastline.  
 
Over many years, the City has implemented a range of measures aimed at managing and mitigating the impacts of coastal erosion at both Mettams Pool and Watermans Bay.  This includes:

• In 2010, several significant weather events jeopardised the integrity of various infrastructure assets along Watermans Bay, including the coastal recreational shared path and West Coast Drive.  In response, the City undertook emergency protective works, including construction of a ‘soft rock’ seawall of geotextile sand containers (GSC), which has been effective in maintaining the current assets in place
• In 2015, the City undertook a Strategic Coastal Process Study, looking at areas of the coast that were susceptible to erosion, and a geophysical survey examined the underlying condition of the coastline to locate vulnerabilities
• In 2019, the Department of Planning Lands and Heritage and the Department of Transport recognised the vulnerability of Watermans Bay and Mettams Pool by placing them on a list of WA coastal erosion hotspots
• In 2020, repairs to the seawall were undertaken to safeguard Watermans Bay following damage sustained after a fierce storm
• In 2021, the City undertook extensive engagement with the community to inform a Coastal Hazard Risk Management Adaptation Plan (CHRMAP). This plan provides a long-term plan that guides the City’s response over 10, 25, 50 and 100-year horizons. This plan was co-funded by the Department of Planning Lands and Heritage
• In 2023, the City submitted funding applications under the State Government’s Coastal Management Plan Assistance Program (CMPAP) for detailed options assessments of both Watermans Bay and Mettams Pool.

The City welcomed the recent State Government allocation of $70,000 funding towards the Mettams Pool Options Assessment although funding was not awarded for the Watermans Bay Options Assessment. Regardless, given the importance of completing assessments for both coastal erosion hot spots, Council made the decision for the City to fully fund the Waterman Bay Options Assessment.  
 
This Options Assessment will aim to select the optimal coastal protection solution for Watermans Bay and will investigate treatments such as beach nourishment, headland enhancement, nearshore reefs and revetments/seawalls. 
 
Long term management of erosion at Watermans Bay will likely require more than one treatment.  The simple construction of a limestone wall, as suggested by Mr Lilburne, has not appropriately considered the coastal hazards and processes at this location. Such a single treatment may not allow the retention of a viable beach at Watermans Bay. Due to the value of a beach environment to many locals and visitors, this would not be a positive community outcome.  
 
Management of the coastline has, and will continue to be, a shared responsibility across all levels of government to ensure the protection of these assets for future generations. 
 
The City of Stirling has a strong working relationship with many State and Federal Members of Parliament which enables positive outcomes for our local community. 
Misinformed statements in Parliament and a lack of engagement by the Member for Carine do not reflect that type of working relationship.