The battle to protect Australia’s beaches from the relentless force of coastal erosion is more urgent than ever.
For many Australians, the beach is not just a destination; it’s an integral part of their everyday lives. Yet, alarmingly, the very coastlines that frame our lives are slowly vanishing.
Take Gingin Shire, located about an hour north of Perth, where President Linda Balcombe has witnessed her community’s cherished shoreline being devoured by the sea. Earlier this year, a beloved lookout point in Lancelin had to be demolished to prevent it from falling into the ocean. As Ms. Balcombe pointed out, "Lancelin faces two significant challenges: it is grappling with coastal erosion and sits below sea level. If the ocean breaches the sand dunes, we risk severe flooding."
A decade ago, Seabird—a nearby community—nearly lost a cluster of homes to the encroaching waves. They were saved just in time by a seawall that cost $2 million, but as Ms. Balcombe remarks, “That was over ten years ago, and the seawall might only last another five years.”
Erosion is a widespread issue affecting various locations across Australia, with properties literally collapsing into the ocean and shifting sands leaving jetties stranded. For instance, at Inverloch Surf Beach in Victoria, more than 70 meters of the coastline has been eroded since 2012. Glenn Arnold, president of the local surf lifesaving club, has fought tirelessly to keep his clubhouse intact amid this crisis. He lamented, "The damage has been ongoing, and it shows no signs of slowing down." After waiting for funding, new sandbags are finally being added to help protect his cherished beach, yet he expressed his sadness over the situation: "It’s disheartening that we find ourselves in this predicament."
For communities centered around beach life, coastal erosion is not merely a technical problem; it evokes deep emotions. "People are frightened," Ms. Balcombe explains. "When fear sets in, it often turns to anger."
So, what is driving this erosion? While coastal erosion isn’t a new phenomenon, climate change has significantly accelerated alterations to coastlines in recent decades. Angus Gordon OAM, a coastal engineer, notes that many wrongly attribute coastal erosion primarily to rising sea levels. In reality, he explains, the root cause lies in a shift in the latitude of weather systems. This means storms and atmospheric pressure patterns are now occurring in areas different from where they used to. Consequently, the ocean reacts to these changes through a process called "wave energy flux," which refers to the shifting direction of waves.
As Mr. Gordon elaborates, "Weather systems produce winds, which in turn generate waves; when these patterns change, the coastline must adapt accordingly." He argues that the core issue lies in erecting permanent structures in an environment that is inherently dynamic. "We’ve permitted developments that are incompatible with a naturally shifting landscape by establishing fixed structures in a flexible environment."
This raises an important question: who is responsible for addressing coastal erosion? This issue leads us into a broader philosophical debate about beach ownership—a topic that traces back to Ancient Rome. According to Mr. Gordon, our modern right to access beaches can be traced back to the public trust doctrine established by the Roman Emperor Justinian in the sixth century, which deemed natural resources like air and rainfall as free. Surprisingly, this doctrine also included the right to access foreshores.
This ancient principle has influenced contemporary laws, contributing to the vast number of public beaches in Australia. However, Mr. Gordon points out that contemporary developments have complicated the situation. "In practice, a significant portion of the beach is privately owned," he says.
So who foots the bill for erosion control? Various strategies are employed, including constructing seawalls and pylons to safeguard the shoreline. Another method involves protecting the natural integrity of sand dunes through sandbagging and maintaining native vegetation. Additionally, sand nourishment—where extra sand is added to the beach—is also utilized. Unfortunately, all of these solutions come with hefty price tags, and securing funding can be a slow and challenging process.
In Inverloch, a federal grant of $3.3 million has been allocated to address this pressing issue, supplemented by contributions from the state government and local council. The Bass Coast Council has openly stated that its financial resources for ongoing sand nourishment are limited. "It always comes back to funding," Glenn Arnold remarked, encapsulating the struggle.
Linda Balcombe's shire faces a similar dilemma. She shared that the council is exploring options to share costs with private landowners, stating, "We want to protect everyone, but our financial capabilities are constrained."
Looking ahead, even if there were unlimited funds available for sandbags and seawalls, Angus Gordon warns that these current measures will not provide a permanent solution to erosion. "When we introduce non-adaptive structures into a constantly changing coastal environment, any temporary victories will eventually give way to losses," he cautioned.
In response to this ongoing crisis, the Gingin Shire is implementing new regulations mandating that any future developments identified as vulnerable to erosion or flooding within the next century must adhere to specific guidelines. "Such developments must be designed to be relocatable if water reaches designated thresholds," Ms. Balcombe explained. Furthermore, properties at risk will have this hazard noted on their titles, ensuring prospective buyers are informed. "By making these choices now, we aim to set a foundation for better decisions in the future," she added.
Mr. Gordon believes that fostering a greater public understanding of coastal erosion could empower people to cope with this issue more effectively. "Once they grasp the reality of the situation, individuals begin to realize the need for adaptability and acknowledge that beaches will evolve and some may unfortunately be lost."
But here's where it gets controversial: how should society balance development and environmental protection? And who should bear the responsibility of managing our coastlines? These questions remain open for discussion. What are your thoughts? Do you think private owners should take on more responsibility, or should the government step in more decisively? Let's hear your views!
