Development of new wave pool, tourist resort in Aldinga announced

Looking to shred some waves? A new development planned for a beach town a short drive south of Adelaide could mean you can – without heading to the ocean.

A tourist resort with a lagoon and wave pool that can support 70 surfers at one time has been proposed for Aldinga, according to an Onkaparinga councillor.

South Coast Ward councillor Lauren Jew posted on social media about the proposal lodged with the council for a new recreation hub.

Ms Jew said there would be tourist accommodations, a shop, wellness studio, and food and beverage outlets at the site on Tuit Rd, Aldinga – immediately west of the Port Willunga Tourist Park.

The proposed site for a new tourist resort with a lagoon and wave pool that can support 70 surfers at one time. Picture: City of Onkaparinga Council

Ms Jew said the resort was to be known as “The Break” – a surfers’ paradise that centres around a lagoon with machinery capable of generating 2.1m high waves up to every 12 seconds.

“The wave lagoon, of approximately 9200sq m, is positioned towards the western side of the site and can cater for a maximum of 70 surfers at any one time, with sessions typically to run for an hour,” Ms Jew wrote.

“The tourist accommodation portion of the development is located to the southern end of the lagoon and comprises 35 cabins with a mixture of one and two-bed options.

“The proposal retains 50 per cent of the site as green space, is proposing the planting of approximately 300 new trees (including natives and drought- tolerant understorey planting) and incorporates Water Sensitive Urban Design features including swales and bioretention ponds.”

In response to comments on her posts, Ms Jew said she “can confirm (the wave pool and lagoon) would be open to the general public” and the buildings would be single storey with the exceptions of the lifeguard tower, ticketing booth and food and beverage building.

Future Urban submitted the plans on behalf of The Break Surf Park Investments, whose directors are Richard Sheppard and Dwight Stutchbery. The site was purchased last year for $3.5 million.

Attempts to contact the proponents were unsuccessful.

Full plans for the development are not currently available to the public unless an appointment is booked directly with the Onkaparinga Council to view them.

Other wave pools across the country have been used for The Australian Olympic surfing team training, such as this one in Melbourne. Picture: Blainey Woodham Surfing Australia

A spokeswoman for the council said the proposal did not trigger public notification due to the “uses proposed being exempt from notification as per state legislation”.

“As such, there is no option available to neighbours to formally submit concerns or comments on the proposal as part of the development application process,” she said. “Under the former planning system (repealed in March 2021) the application would have been subject to public notification and representers would have had appeal rights in relation to the merits of the proposal.

“This process has been removed for this application under the new planning system.

“Council has previously advocated for the reinstatement of appeals rights, with the state government’s review of the implementation of the planning system still outstanding.”