The story of Glen Trebilcock, owner of the beloved Lancelin Sands Hotel, is a stark reminder of the power of nature and the challenges faced by coastal communities. With his livelihood at stake, Trebilcock took a bold stand against the relentless forces of erosion.
Waking up on a Tuesday morning, Trebilcock discovered that the sand stockpiled in 2025 to protect the coast had vanished, leaving the iconic pub just 15 meters from the shoreline after several nights of destructive high tides. Frustrated by the lack of immediate action, he decided to take matters into his own hands, using a small front-end loader to move sand and reinforce the area.
"I don't want to wake up one day and find my restaurant floating in the ocean," Trebilcock said, expressing his fears. "It's a very real possibility.
Last year, we lost 35 meters of coastline. The State Government provided temporary funding of $150k for sand nourishment, but it didn't offer a long-term solution. It held up during the summer, but now, as we approach winter, the damage is severe."
But here's where it gets controversial... The Shire of Gingin completed sand replacement works in September, and in February, they voted to initiate a design process for a temporary rock-bag wall. However, according to Gingin shire president Linda Balcombe, the trigger profile for sand nourishment hasn't been reached yet.
Nationals leader Shane Love described the situation as dire, pointing out that just a year ago, a public footpath and a sand dune separated the hotel from the sea. Today, they're both gone, with 900 cubic meters of rehabilitation sand washed away.
Trebilcock emphasized the urgency of the matter: "Something must be done now. We can't afford to wait for reports and hope for the best. This is an immediate crisis."
A State Government spokesperson suggested that the shire could apply for additional funding, stating that the emergency sand nourishment works were a short-term measure to buy time for long-term planning.
So, what do you think? Is the government doing enough to support coastal communities like Lancelin? Or should they be taking more proactive measures to protect these vulnerable areas? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
