WA: Gracetown cliff collapse was inevitable, court told

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2004
WA: Gracetown cliff collapse was inevitable, court told

A Perth court has been told a cliff collapse that killed nine people at Gracetown in
Western Australia could have been avoided if authorities had acted on clear danger signals.

The WA District Court has been told that two experts agree local authorities should've
realised the potential danger just by looking at the cliff overhang at Huzza's beach.

The WA government, the shire of Augusta-Margaret River, the department of Conservation
and Land Management and WA's education ministry are all being sued by the victims' families
over the 1996 tragedy.

Four children and five adults were killed after sand and rock weighing more than 1,400
tonnes collapsed on a group of spectators huddled underneath the limestone overhang at
a surfing competition.

The plaintiffs' lawyer IAN VINER QC has told the court while it would've been impossible
to predict when the cliff collapse might have occurred, the mere possibility should have
prompted action.

The case continues before Judge PETER NISBET.

AAP RTV tc/wjf/lma/rp

KEYWORD: GRACETOWN (PERTH)

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