Emu Point under threat

The City of Albany hopes emergency work to combat severe erosion at Emu Point will start by the end of the year.

At least 30m of the Emu Point walk/cycle path has now been lost to the elements.

A $70,000 City of Albany erosion investigation is currently under way to identify possible emergency actions and determine a long-term management strategy for the area.

City acting chief executive Linda Hill said every effort was being made to finish the study as soon as possible, but she declined to provide a date on when it was expected to be completed.

“(The study) is due to be presented to the community and endorsed by council later in the year, with the potential for emergency works to occur before summer,” she said.

Ms Hill said previous short-term defences to protect the dunes in the area had not provided the desired outcome.

She said the study was jointly funded by the Department of Transport and the City and was being conducted by engineering consultants URS Australia.

“The report will also detail strategies and recommendations for emergency works,” Ms Hill said.

“The intention is that, subject to council recommendation and approval by the department, this report can be used to support applications for emergency funding of works.”

The Emu Point area has a history of serious erosion problems.

Ms Hill said when completed the current study would govern a long-term coastal management strategy for the area from the eastern end of Middleton Beach to the Emu Point brick wall.

Friends of Emu Point president Ken Drummond praised the City for committing to action in the area.

“We’re confident that they’ve said they will sort out the best solution,” he said.

“We all want the same outcome.”