Leader of The Nationals WA, Shane Love MLA, says the Cook Labor Government has abandoned the people of Lancelin, leaving local residents, businesses and volunteers to fight a coastal erosion crisis on their own while the State stands by and watches in real time.
As the ocean closes in on the Lancelin Sands Hotel and threatens to breach land sitting below sea level, the community has resorted to launching a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for emergency protection works after receiving little practical support from the State Government.
Mr Love said no community should ever be forced to crowdfund to save itself from a disaster.
“The people of Lancelin have been abandoned,” Mr Love said.
“They have watched their coastline disappear, they’ve pleaded for help, they’ve done everything within their power, and now they’re being forced to pass the hat around because the State Government has walked away.
“This isn’t how governments should respond when communities are facing an emergency.”
Mr Love said the situation had reached a critical point, with very little remaining between the ocean, the Lancelin Sands Hotel and low-lying parts of the town, including the Caravan Park, housing and public infrastructure, could be inundated if the coastline fails.
“The community has done its part. The Shire has done what it can. Local businesses have stepped up. Volunteers have stepped up.
“The only people missing are the State Government.”
Mr Love said Labor’s refusal to intervene was comparable to abandoning communities during other natural disasters.
“For Government to say it isn’t going to do anything is like telling someone whose home backs onto a State forest and has a bushfire racing towards them, ‘You’re on your own. We’re not going to help.’
“It’s effectively refusing to send in the fire brigade.
“No Western Australian would accept that during a bushfire, and regional communities shouldn’t be expected to accept it when the disaster is coming from the ocean.”