Beach cottage residents face uncertainty

Residents of Point Moore are anxiously awaiting the unveiling of the City of Greater Geraldton’s coastal inundation study.

The report was approved in April last year and will be released to the public on January 8.

In 2014 the threat of coastal inundation caused the City to shorten leases on the point Moore area so all leases simultaneously end in 2028, replacing the three sets of rolling 21-year leases that had been most recently renewed in 1993, 2004 and 2007.

Friends of Point Moore chairperson David Harrington said the discussion of inundation had greatly devalued the homes of Point Moore residents, and around a third were pensioners whose homes were their single major retirement investment.

“The price of cottages prior to July 2014 was around $210,000, but they’re now somewhere between $85,000 to $110,000,” he said.

“Anyone who is a pensioner who put their life savings in that area, who may be moving into aged care, they have to put money up for that, and they were relying on that $200,000 investment for them to turn in.

“Quite literally they’re terrified, they don’t know which way to turn, they can’t sell and they can’t get out.”

City of Greater Geraldton CEO Ken Diehm said the council had resolved to undertake the study in regard to the West End beach cottage leases.

“MP Rogers, a highly qualified and experienced coastal consultancy, have completed the study and submitted their report which will be reviewed by Council in early January,” he said.

“The City will also meet with Point Moore residents, leaseholders, businesses and other stakeholders in early January to review the report.”

The City is currently seeking advice from the State Department of Lands and State Department of Planning regarding the report and will then open the report for public comment until February 19.