THE Leighton Action Coalition says it’s thrilled Fremantle mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge “doubled down” on the council’s support for a bigger foreshore setback when the precinct is opened for housing.

Ms Fitzhardinge gave her strongest support for the Coalition’s call for the WA Planning Commission to hold off approving a subdivision of old industrial land adjacent to Port and Leighton beaches until more consideration was given to the effects of climate change.

• The Leighton Action Coalition says people seem ready to mobilise again to protect their beaches from inappropriate development.

Coalition organiser Paul Gamblin said around 200 people attended the meeting last Wednesday, and he sensed there was a willingness to act quickly, with the WAPC’s decision on the subdivision expected shortly.

“What we are really doing is encouraging people to write letters to members of parliament and the planning minister, and we had a real surge in submissions after the meeting, and not just pro-formas.”

Mr Gamblin said if the Cook government followed developers’ aspirations to allow housing closer to the beach, it would inevitably lead to more groynes, whereas a setback to Bracks Street in North Fremantle would be likely to negate the need for human intervention so nature could do its work.