Broome cliff erosion fears

Crumbling coastal cliffs at Town Beach took another blow recently when severe weather and high tides brought further damage and erosion.

Resident Clive Johnson said he noticed a large chunk had fallen away from the pindan cliffs while visiting the area last week.

Mr Johnson, who has been monitoring the rapid erosion of the cliffs between Town Beach and the Catalinas, said he believed about 50m of land had been lost over the years.

Town Beach Cafe owner Bruce Chamberlain said he believed the erosion had become a bigger issue in recent years.

"I've noticed there's a lot more erosion and it's not unusual to see pindan floating out to sea," he said.

"We've got sacred graveyards there and that's quite disturbing … I've been over there several times and it's quite remarkable how much we're losing."

Broome Visitor Centre general manager Nick Linton said the area was significant because thousands of tourists flocked to Town Beach each year to witness the Staircase to the Moon.

"Significant erosion could have an impact on potential viewing places for a natural phenomenon which is an essential drawcard for tourism," he said.

Broome Shire president Graeme Campbell said the erosion of the cliffs was estimated at between 0.2m and 0.5m each year, depending on weather and tide conditions.

He said the Shire commissioned an engineering report that put the cost of revetment work at $4.2 million, and highlighted this as a priority in the Shire's Corporate Business Plan adopted by council last month.

Mr Campbell said the Shire was required to source grant funding of about $3.9 million, with the Shire to contribute the remainder.

"Applications have been made to a range of potential funding sources, and if the applications are successful, work is scheduled to get underway in the 2015-16 year," he said.