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Good morning readers, and welcome to our live news blog for Tuesday, July 22.
Making headlines today is news from a coastal holiday enclave north of Perth, where the ocean is quite literally at the doorstep. In fact, it’s getting closer than many locals would like.
The cash-poor Shire of Gingin appears caught in a nightmare cycle.
Over the past five years 25 metres of beachfront has disappeared, as not even professional hazard mapping anticipated, leaving the steps to the lookout leading directly into the water.
Coastal modelling showed it must relocate properties at risk from erosion, but a strategic plan formed in response faced such strong local rejection that the modelling has grown outdated before the council could get the plans over the line.
The next step requires fresh modelling and a return to the drawing board even as local assets fall into the sea.
The shire announced last Wednesday that it would by Friday demolish the lookout near the tourist town’s pub with only a “small window of opportunity to safely demolish the structure … before erosion makes this work significantly more dangerous.”
Barely 48 hours later on Friday morning, the shire hit pause, stating: “We understand and respect the strong community connection to the lookout and acknowledge the concerns raised … this decision has not been made lightly.”
Emma Young has the full story covered. You can read all about it here.
Meanwhile, WA’s education minister is being urged to release the findings of the first review into the state’s Education Act in almost 25 years, which was meant to have been finalised months ago.
Opposition Education Minister Liam Staltari said as schools returned for term 3 this week, families and teachers were still “in the dark” about whether they would receive vital support in the classroom.
The School Education Act Review was first announced by then-education minister Tony Buti in December 2023.
At the time, Buti said cultural change, attitude change, and more resources for teachers were needed so every child could “reach their full potential, no matter their postcode or special needs”, and apologised to parents of those living with a disability for “letting them down” in the past.
The consultation phase concluded in October 2024 and, according to the WA Department of Education’s website, the final report was meant to be provided to the minister by December that year.
However, there has so far been no news on the findings or what information was gleaned from more than 200 formal submissions and 30 consultation and information sessions.
You can read Holly Thompson’s story here.
Thank you for joining us this morning. Stay tuned as we bring you more news you need to know throughout the day.
