The tide has finally turned for Lancelin residents who have been fighting to save their town from being swallowed by the sea.

After months of rallying and demanding urgent action, the Western Australia government has agreed to build a temporary rock wall to protect the coastal community from record beach erosion.

The 110m-long and 4.5m-high wall, costing cost $1.1 million, has been welcomed by local residents and business owners.

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“It’s definitely a relief. I’m just, you know, thankful that we’ve finally got some traction,” Lancelin Sands Hotel owner Glen Trebilcock said.

Lancelin is a popular tourist destination about 125km, or a 90-minute drive, north of Perth, best known for the large sand dunes behind the town.

But it is the sand at the shoreline which has been eroding at an unprecedented rate, with sandbags no longer able to keep up with the damage.

“Everybody knows erosion happens up and down the coast but for it to happen at that speed, that ferocity, is something that’s got everybody puzzled,” Trebilcock said.

Over the past 18 months, 55m of shoreline has crumbled away.

Locals rallied earlier this year to sandbag parts of the shoreline when it came within 5m of the Lancelin Sands Hotel, as they also launched fundraising efforts and pleaded with the state government for a more permanent fix.

Locals sandbagged before the state government now approved a temporary rock wall to combat Lancelin beach erosion. Credit: 7NEWS

Significant coastline has been eaten away since May 2025 and June 2026. Credit: 7NEWS

Locals feared that without urgent action, the hotel, caravan park and the old lookout carpark could be gone within a year.

The lookout — a sought-after stop with international selfie-hunters — was torn down midway through 2025 due to safety concerns and soon after the former site was completely washed away.

The government now says the temporary wall will protect the town for five years, giving locals time to find a long-term solution.

“No solution is perfect but all the advice is this is a very good solution,” WA Planning and Lands Minister John Carey said.

“But my message to the community is, we’re taking this issue very seriously.

“This is, I think, a major win for the pub, the caravan park, the local community. I think it’s fantastic.”

However, some locals expressed frustration at the delay in action.

“It was a little bit disappointing that it took so long for them to turn around and act, but however they have now,” Trebilcock said.

Work will start in December, with the government promising it will be completed before the next critical winter season.