The Coastal Pathway – unfinished business Richard Smith and Jim Douglas
The Hon Diana Laidlaw, Minister for Transport and Urban Planning (1997-2002) initiated the Coastal Linear Park project (as it is now called) on the edge of Gulf St Vincent. The plan was to construct a footpath and a recreational bicycle path along the Adelaide foreshore between Outer Harbor and ultimately Sellicks Beach. The funding and construction of this uninterrupted pathway is a shared responsibility of the SA State Government(s) and six coastal councils including the City of Charles Sturt. Between 2001 and 2013, the state government had provided over $21 million. In 2019, it continues to provide funding matched by local government councils towards the development of the project. It was anticipated that the full construction would take ten years; however, this timeline has been well exceeded. We are into the 18th year and the pathway has not been completed. It is interesting to revisit a statement by the Hon Ms Laidlaw that it was disappointing the infrastructure designed to benefit pedestrians and cyclists has taken so long to be completed. As one of the six local coastal governments, the City of Charles Sturt commenced community consultation in 2013. The first section of the Coastal Linear Park was completed along Henley Beach shore. In subsequent years, the council completed construction from West Beach through to Grange as well as sections within Semaphore Park. The section of coastline between Grange and Semaphore is the area of concern. Nestled between this section of coast are the well-known and cared for Tennyson Dunes, said to be up to 6,000 years old and containing rare coastal plants with many bird and reptile species. WACRA is recognised as a key stakeholder alongside five other community resident groups: Coastal Ecology Protection Group (CEPG), Sandpiper Place Group (SPG), Wild Endangered Dunes Group (WEDGE), Tennyson Heights Group (THG) and the Tennyson Dunes Group (TDG). Many of these groups were set up after 2013. Initially the well-established Bicycle Users Group (BUG) was a stakeholder. Council, in its attempt to find common ground between these groups, called for expressions of interest. A Coast Park Community Reference Group was to be managed by council with an independent facilitator. Terms of reference were agreed upon. We recall that: Various planning and coastal experts were brought in to provide guidance to this reference group. At times the meetings were dynamic and heated; consensus was not reached. In total, this reference group met for two years. There were strong deputations to council. Generally, your deputation was acknowledged with applause. Those presenting the deputation could leave their documented notes but had no right of reply to council. It was difficult to ascertain if our voice had been heard. The process and workings of council are not always clear.
Our involvement commenced on 26 March 2014. At the first meeting of the reference group, we were given an environmental report. It explored pathway design possibilities. We discussed the area from Terminus Street in Grange to Third Avenue in Semaphore. This section contains the Tennyson Dunes for which the Tennyson Dunes Group has a passionate concern. Ian Hunter, Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, SA Government, made it clear that this area was going to be declared as a reserve. However, for the coastal pathway to proceed, we needed to agree on the way in which Tennyson Dunes 38
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