Frustrated by what they see as an inadequate government response to coastal erosion, residents and business owners in the Western Australian town of Lancelin have taken matters into their own hands, launching a GoFundMe campaign to build a rock seawall to protect the Lancelin Sands Hotel and adjacent caravan park.
Erosion crisis deepens as shoreline retreats
The owners of the Lancelin Sands Hotel, a popular beachfront venue about 125 kilometres north of Perth, started the fundraiser after recent severe weather brought the shoreline to within just seven metres of the building—down from 15 metres in March. The hotel, a beloved local institution, now faces an imminent threat from the advancing sea.
Hotel owner Glen Trebilcock expressed his exasperation with the slow pace of government action. “It’s ridiculous, anywhere else and no worries at all, it would have been rectified or dealt with a long time before now,” he said. “However, WA’s adventure playground has been just left to its own devices.”
Community rallies with $40,000 raised in four days
The GoFundMe campaign seeks $150,000 to fund a roughly 100-metre seawall spanning the front of the hotel, the caravan park, and the adjoining dune system to the south. Within four days, more than $40,000 had been raised from over 100 donors, including a single anonymous $20,000 donation received off the platform.
Mr Trebilcock said the seawall had already been designed by coastal and port engineering firm M P Rogers. The structure would require rocks, core material, and geotextile fabric. A sketch of the proposed wall, obtained by The West Australian, shows it shielding the hotel and the southern section of the caravan park, as well as some land to the south.
Approvals still needed from multiple authorities
However, the project may face regulatory hurdles. A Shire of Gingin spokesperson noted that approvals could be required from various departments. “Depending on the nature and location of the works, approvals may be required from a range of authorities,” they said. “In addition to the Shire, the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure, the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage have roles in assessing and endorsing coastal protection works on the coast.”
When asked if he would wait for official approval, Mr Trebilcock laughed and replied, “Sure, no problem, if that’s what you’re saying.”
Government response criticised as inadequate
Lancelin has struggled with accelerated erosion for several years. In September 2025, the State Government provided $150,000 in emergency funding for sand renourishment, but the sand was quickly washed away by subsequent storms. Nationals leader Shane Love criticised the government’s inaction. “It shouldn’t have got to this point, there should have been some proper action taken by Government in the first place,” he said. “I’ve raised this a number of times in Parliament since the erosion really got underway in this area and we have not had yet any action of any meaningful action, apart from sand renourishment, which is being quickly washed away again.”
A State Government spokesperson acknowledged that recent storms had exceeded erosion modelling. “The State Government continues to balance the need for timely action with ensuring that decisions are informed by appropriate technical assessment, planning, and approvals,” they said. “In addition to the $150,000 emergency support provided in 2025, the State Government continues to support the Shire of Gingin through the CoastWA program, which provides funding, coastal data, technical expertise, and planning support.”
Shire remains committed but cautious
The Shire of Gingin spokesperson emphasised that the battle against erosion is not lost, but protecting individual buildings requires detailed engineering. “The Shire is committed to trying. Whether individual buildings can be protected depends on site-specific engineering,” they said. “These matters require detailed technical assessment and are not matters that the Shire can determine in isolation.”
Mr Trebilcock warned that the erosion threatens not just the hotel but the entire community. “Further north, you’ve got the caravan park being affected, you’ve got all these people that are looking at buying houses, you’ve got all these sort of single retirees that are saying do we need to sell up now?” he said.
