Hallett Cove residents are calling for more transparency over 50m suspended bridge designs

They pleaded for a suspended cable bridge not to be built but now coastal homeowners are frustrated they’ve been locked out of a meeting deciding its future.

Hallett Cove residents say they have been “disrespected” in the design process for a proposed cable bridge destined for a popular walking trail, after Marion Council closed Tuesday night’s meeting to the public.

Zeb and Nadia Nickolai and Julie and Nick Smales of Boonga St, will look directly onto the cable bridge, despite their pleas to stop it being constructed.

“We feel disrespected,” Mrs Smales said.

“This our home, it’s also the loss of amenities that you buy into and the area’s not cheap.”

The currently unnamed 50m suspended cable bridge will stand 25m high over Kurnabinna Gully at Hallett Cove and form part of Marion Council’s Coastal Walkway, replacing boardwalk stairs.

The initial design of the cable bridge across Kurnabinna Gully, replacing the steps which go up and down the gully. Picture: City of Marion

Almost 3km of the walkway was closed in June last year due to safety concerns, with 2km reopening in January.

The $4.8m project will be equally funded by the council and the state government, and will form part of the government’s 71km Coast Park walk stretching from Sellicks Beach to North Haven.

At October’s council meeting, councillors unanimously moved to build the cable bridge, despite Councillor Bruce Hull raising residents concerns over the ‘confronting’ designs.

Both couples, who have lived in the suburb for the better part of the decade, said the entire street was under-informed in the process and given a lacklustre 14 days to submit a response to council.

“The funny thing is, we were told the bridge wouldn’t obstruct anybody, it couldn’t obstruct us anymore if it tried,” Mr Nickolai said.

The view from the Nickolais’ balcony at Hallett Cove. Picture: Emily Jarvis

Zeb and Nadia Nickolai say the bridge will obstruct their coastal views. Picture: Emily Jarvis

“We have two young kids who use the beach access and explore down on the rocks and we can see them from our balcony, we don’t want them going to another access out of our sight.”

Mr Hull said he was concerned Tuesday’s meeting was held in confidence and not opened to the public.

“We as a council should be realising what information we can and making it available to the residents,” he said.

“It’s not acceptable that you can go and sit in on state parliament but residents cannot attend a council meeting about what’s happening in their backyard.”

When The Advertiser contacted the council as to why the meeting was held in confidence, a spokesperson said nearby residents would continue to be updated as the project progressed.

“The City of Marion will shortly engage a preferred contractor to finalise the suspension bridge designs,” they said.

“The item is being discussed in confidence at the December 14 meeting for commercial reasons.

“All designs will be completed by February ready for construction to start in early 2022.”