Details given on Geraldton Marine Rescue contingency proposal at council agenda forum

Geraldton’s Marine Rescue headquarters in Point Moore would have to be demolished if the encroaching shoreline came within six metres of the facility. At the City of Greater Geraldton’s agenda forum last week further detail was given on plans for a back-up building to be rented out by Geraldton Marine Rescue if the group is forced out of its current headquarters by coastal erosion. The back-up building, a boardroom at the Geraldton Multipurpose Centre, would be leased out only if the group had to leave, CEO Ross McKim said. In that situation, the lease for the boardroom would be funded by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services to cover the lost of income from hiring out the facility. The current headquarters would be demolished if it became a safety hazard but only as a last resort, Mr McKim said — if the shore came within six metres of the building. Councillor Michael Reymond also asked about the future of Bob Davies Park, which is next to the headquarters, and would also be under threat if erosion worsened, but Mr McKim said the city had no plans for replacing the park. The proposal to surrender the headquarters and lease out the boardroom in a contingency plan will be voted on at the upcoming council meeting on Tuesday.