Funding announced for concept plans for Hallett Cove pool

Adelaide is a step closer to being home to a multimillion-dollar seaside tidal pool but the battle’s not over yet. See what needs to happen next.

Adelaide’s first seaside tidal pool is a step closer after the state government announced concept plans and community consultation would be funded at Hallett Cove.

Building on a feasibility study in 2019, the new $70,000 concept plans will be made through a partnership by the state government and City of Marion.

The City of Marion Council will receive $35,000 towards for the project which will explore environmental sustainability, physical positioning, pool design/layout, access and design.

Environment and Water Minister David Speirs said community engagement would also be at the centre of the project.

“Last year I undertook a survey in our community which revealed just how popular the idea for a Hallett Cove sea pool is with more than 90 per cent of the 2000 respondents supportive. I’ve never seen so much support for a single project,” he said.

Early estimates show the pool – which would be the first of its kind along the metropolitan coastline – costing up to $5.5 million.

Mr Speirs at the Edithburgh pool. Picture: supplied

“This project won’t happen over night but the latest funding will be critical to helping inform what the sea pool will look like moving forward and importantly it will bring the local community along on the journey,” Mr Speirs said.

“The concept design process, combined with ongoing community conversations will help answer the unknowns and set us up for funding in the future,” he said.

“This project was always going to be a ‘slow burn’. It has to be carefully planned, but we are now another step closer.”

The idea for the Hallett Cove pool, which would be located at Heron Way Reserve, was first floated in 2018.

A $50,000 feasibility study revealed the best option would be a walled pool with pumped water and occasional “wave flushing”.

South Australia’s only tidal pool is at Edithburgh on the Yorke Peninsula, and was built in the 1930s.

City of Marion mayor Kris Hanna said the completed plans would be “months away”.

“There's a lot of enthusiasm for the romantic idea of a pool with the waves washing over the edge, but what is proposed is an outdoor pool which would have a wall between the swimming lines,” he said.
“The concept will give us a rough guide, perhaps on costing and that will allow the state government to make a decision on whether indeed it does want to invest millions of dollars on a pool at that site.”