Onkaparinga eyes cost cutting of Witton Bluff trail between Christies Beach and Port Noarlunga

The completion of a southern Adelaide coastal trail might have hit a roadblock after the local council voted to explore potential cost-cutting measures.

Kingston Labor MP Amanda Rishworth with Jeanette Howell from the Port Noarlunga Business and Tourism Association with Witton Bluff in the background.

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The completion of an Adelaide coastal trail might have hit a roadblock after Onkaparinga Council voted to explore potential cost-cutting measures.

Councillor Martin Bray successfully convinced the council at its meeting last night to investigate whether the Witton Bluff base trail between Christies Beach and Port Noarlunga could be delivered for significantly less than the $5.3 million estimated for the design and build.

Cr Bray said the council was under “incredible” financial pressure because of upgrading various sporting facilities and therefore had “ballooning” debt.

Part of the Witton Bluff trail at Port Noarlunga.

Last year, the council committed $2.65 million for the design and construction of the trail on the condition it secured matching funding from either the State or Federal Government.

Then last month, federal Labor MP for Kingston Amanda Rishworth promised $2.7 million towards the project if an ALP government was elected on May 18.

Now the council has decided to see if an “innovative approach” using “small-scale contactors” — potentially in stages — could reduce its contribution towards the project.

“This is an issue of some concern from the last council,” Cr Bray said.

Onkaparinga councillor Martin Bray. Picture:AAP/ Keryn Stevens.

Federal Labor Member for Kingston Amanda Rishworth.

“The estimated cost at the moment is quite considerable and it will be interesting to see if we can break it up into stages … (and) with in-house management possibly change the funding future for this project to something more favourable to the council.

“This is asking (staff) to give it their best effort to see if we can prevent the burden on our ratepayers.

“It’s respectfully asking federal Labor whether they might be prepared to give us the $2.7 million regardless of whether the project is delivered for less.”

Cr Wayne Olsen supported the motion, saying the council had “no idea” how much the project would cost because detailed design work had not been done since 2009, when it was deferred due to the cost.

But Cr Richard Peat said it was “embarrassing” and made it look like the council had overpriced the development or couldn’t do sums.

Ms Rishworth said she would sit down with the council to see if the project could still be completed as “a high quality piece of infrastructure that meets the needs of the community”.

“It is disappointing that Onkaparinga has put this project in jeopardy by not committing to invest in the base trail,” she said.

“It doesn’t leave ratepayers with much confidence that this council can deliver on its commitments.”

More than 1000 residents signed an online petition on Ms Rishworth’s website calling for the walking and cycling path to be completed.

The Christies Beach and Port Noarlunga Business and Tourism Associations have been pushing for the path to be built for years.

Most of the 1.2km trail, which runs along the cliff edge between the two suburbs, was built in the 1980s.

However, because of construction challenges, a 300m stretch was never finished.

Once completed, the trail would form part of the 70km coast park from Sellicks Beach to North Haven.