Onkaparinga council increase cost for vehicle access to beach as summer season approaches

Prepare to pay more to drive on to major Adelaide beaches this summer, with one council set to hoard half a million in cash.

A local council is expecting to make nearly half-a-million dollars in profit as it hikes the fee to drive on to hugely popular beaches in Adelaide’s south.

Families intent on making the most of this summer’s warm weather will now have to cough up $12 for a day-pass to Aldinga, Moana, Sellicks and Silver Sands beaches if they don’t own a permit – up from $8 last year.

Not-for-profit volunteer groups – who have been invited to collect the payments at the designated beach ramps – will take just a third of the total amount.

View from Sellicks Beach of a packed beach on January 1st, 2023. Picture: Tom Huntley

A council spokesman said the increase was part of Onkparinga’s annual budget, and had already passed community engagement earlier this year.

“The current fee reflects increasing costs to maintain our foreshore environment and manage safe use where vehicles are permitted,” they said.

“In 2024/25, $375,000 in permit revenue is projected from beach day passes, of which $125,000 will support community groups operating our beach access ramps and $250,000 will go towards the management and maintenance of the foreshore.

Drivers will have to pay $12 to access the beach this summer in the Onkaparinga area. Picture: Morgan Sette

“Funds collected by the volunteers that staff the ramps help support the individual associations performing this collection service. Associations selected to collect vehicle access fees on council’s behalf will receive one third of the fees ($4.00/permit).”

Any motorist driving onto a vehicle access beach must pay the prescribed fee, unless they produce a current Onkaparinga council vehicle beach access permit.

Last year, the fee cost was just $8 – while not-for-profit groups who volunteered were able to claim 50 per cent of each payment.

A $187 expiation fee will apply for any drivers who travel onto the beach without obtaining a beach pass, increasing from $105 in 2023.