Despite the Shire of Gingin’s Local Planning Strategy implying that its coastal systems deserve protection from any adverse consequences which might arise from town site development, at last week’s council meeting, the council decided is was not prepared to make any contribution to the sand renourishment program at Lot 1 McCormick Street in Seabird.

The council report stated: “The Seabird erosion issue has been brought about as a consequence of natural coastal processes.... The planning decisions made by the state government in respect of the development and gazettal of the Seabird town site are historic and the consequences of those decisions must be accepted.”

Seabird councillor Michael Aspinal, who made a declaration of impartiality because he is a friend of the owner of Lot 1, said: “The council had a moral obligation to refurbish the area.” He voted against the council recommendation.

The Gingin works supervisor, Joe Hodges, said the cost of sustainable renourishment works was difficult to estimate. The council's 2008/09 budget allocated $7,489 for expenditure on the Seabird beaches including $4,500 for a beach light.