A pop-up bar at Port Willunga will not go ahead due to residents opposition
A pop-up beach bar planned for a popular southern suburbs beach this summer has been abandoned due to protests by local residents.
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A controversial beach bar planned for Port Willunga will not go ahead this year after more than a hundred locals came out against the proposal.
Organiser Justin McCarthy, from the Australian Trade Alliance, has withdrawn his application for a summer pop-up on the Port Willunga foreshore from December 23 to January 9.
“I’m disappointed,” Mr McCarthy said.
“The voice of very few local residents were very loud in displaying their disapproval.
“I think what this highlights is that a few residents feel they have more right to use public areas than others and therefore control what does and does not go ahead.”
This follows a successful pop-up bar on the Christies Beach foreshore in 2017.
However, locals — including the Friends of Port Willunga group — rose up against the Port Willunga proposal fearing excessive noise and drunken behaviour.
Mayor Erin Thompson said Summer at Port Willunga would not go ahead because 68 per cent of the 171 residents and business owners who responded to the council’s community consultation were opposed to it.
However, a poll by The Messenger found 66 per cent of our readers supported the proposal.
Friends of Port Willunga chairwoman Stephanie Johnston said she was relieved the Port Willunga bar was not going ahead.
“We are not against pop-ups but there was a lot of uncertainty about the hours and the music with this one,” Ms Johnston said.
Mr McCarthy said he was disappointed the residents did not give the event a chance.
Music was mainly to be hits from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s and “well within the parameters set by licensing,” he said.
He added that the initial reaction to Summer at Christies was also negative, however, according to the council’s community consultation, 71 per cent of locals supported the event being held this year.
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Mr McCarthy will continue to work with the council on an event at Port Willunga in 2020.
Ms Thompson said councillors would decide whether to approve 11 other beach events — including Summer at Christies — at Onkaparinga’s meeting on Tuesday night.
“This is fantastic for Onkaparinga and we’re expecting thousands of locals and visitors to come along and soak up the atmosphere on our coastline this summer,” Ms Thompson said.