Council to discuss Marine Rescue Geraldton building as Point Moore erosion threatens its future

The future of Geraldton’s marine rescue hub is under threat, with the building at extreme risk of erosion and Geraldton council believes it could be too unsafe to use by the end of the year.

City of Greater Geraldton councillors are set to discuss the Marine Rescue Geraldton building at Tuesday’s agenda forum in Mullewa, as continued erosion threatens its future.

About 15m of coastline has been lost in front of the marine rescue building over the past six months due to recent storms and winter swells at Point Moore.

According to the council, the situation now threatens the immediate future of the building and associated infrastructure, placing it at extreme risk from both erosion and inundation.

Under the Geraldton Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan, the long-term adaptation pathway for Point Moore is a “managed retreat”.

This involves monitoring coastal processes and implementing managed retreat measures when an identified trigger point is met.

City officers believe the building could become unsafe to occupy before the end of the year given the rate of shoreline recession.

They are therefore recommending that action be undertaken now to plan for the managed retreat of the building.

Marine Rescue Geraldton commander Damien Healy said the recent erosion had come as a shock, but they still held out hope of saving the building.

“We never ever expected that the erosion would happen to such an extent like that,” he said.

“We still believe there’s enough hope there to be able to save the building, toilet block, the shower facilities and the carpark.

“It’s used by us, obviously, for a very important role in the community but it’s also used by a lot of tourists, for the carpark, windsurfing, swimming and all the iconic things that we love in Geraldton.”

Mr Healy said the water level was getting up to 10m from the building.

“We’re hoping that with the swell periods and storm surges that we don’t get any more this year, and then it doesn’t erode any further,” he said.

“If that’s the case, that gives council and the State Government time to come up with the plan of how to save the building.”