Home

Geraldton council to vote on closing Point Moore section after public plea for sand dune repair

Headshot of Elise Van Aken
Elise Van AkenGeraldton Guardian
The coast at Point Moore has been eroded by recent storms, pushing cars closer to the shoreline
Camera IconThe coast at Point Moore has been eroded by recent storms, pushing cars closer to the shoreline Credit: Geraldton Guardian

A small section of Point Moore is set to be closed to vehicles after feedback from residents showed support for the protection and rehabilitation of sand dunes.

Tonight, City of Greater Geraldton councillors will vote receiving the Point Moore Beach Usage Survey Report, based on community consultation, as well as whether to progress dune stabilisation and access control at Point Moore and continue beach monitoring for coastal hazard risk management.

The executive recommendation from the City included the closure of one of three vehicle access ways on to the beach which would lead to about 5 per cent of the area currently open to cars closed.

The other two would have boom gates installed that would be closed during times of high tide or storm activity. More than 700 submissions responded to an online survey regarding the usage and access of Point Moore beaches.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

City of Greater Geraldton coastal and natural environment co-ordinator Michael Dufour told the council agenda forum last Tuesday the recommendation was in keeping with past council decisions and to make “small steps in the management” of the area.

“Yes, we could go in and wholeheartedly close off all the accesses to...provide protection from inundation, but we’ve got to take small steps at a time,” he said.

“Most of which is to the west of Point Moore, that will be intended to be kept open and be shared access at this point in time.”

Mayor Shane Van Styn requested it be made a lot clearer in the item body accesses to the beach would be closed as it was not evident without looking at the accompanying diagrams.

The temporary or permanent banning of vehicles on Point Moore beaches was not being considered by council after being knocked back at the August meeting 11 votes to one.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails