State govt knocks back funding request for ‘incredibly popular’ Hallett Cove sea pool project

A multimillion-dollar plan to build metropolitan Adelaide’s first seaside tidal pool has hit a snag – but there may be hope for the project yet.

Plans to build metropolitan Adelaide’s first sea pool at Hallett Cove may be on hold for a while longer.

Funding for the project – which early estimates have costing up to $5.5m – is now in question after Marion Council’s application for 50 per cent state government funding for the project was unsuccessful.

Marion Mayor Kris Hanna said the project was one of around $13m in local projects to miss out on funding in the latest round of the state government’s Local Government Partnership Program.

“We were disappointed that of our list of projects we received funding for just one but having said that we’re very grateful for the funding we did receive,” Mr Hanna said.

“There was no money for many good projects including the outdoor pool at Hallett Cove.”

Mr Hanna said the council wouldn’t write the project off yet but would need to investigate further.

“We haven’t written the project off but there’s no clear pathway forward at this point,” he said.

“We can do some more investigations but there’s only so much we can do without an obvious funding source.”

The Bondi sea pools are some of Australia’s most famous seaside tidal pools. Could Hallett Cove be the next iconic spot? Picture: iStock

The pool – which would be located at Heron Way Reserve – would be just the second of its kind in South Australia and the first in metropolitan Adelaide.

South Australia’s only mainland sea pool is located at Edithburgh on the Yorke Peninsula and was built in the 1930s. There is another at Kingscote on Kangaroo Island.

When the idea for the pool was first raised in 2018, more than 4500 people signed a petition calling for the idea to be investigated.

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

The Edithburgh tidal pool will be SA’s only seaside tidal pool for a while longer.

It also revealed the pool could provide some protection to the Heron Way embankment.

Local MP and Environment Minister David Speirs said while the idea was “incredibly popular” it was early days for the project.

“It’s a complicated project and the council’s bid for funding was perhaps a little premature with much more information needed including an assessment of environmental impacts and more detailed costings,” he said.

“As the local MP, I’m currently undertaking a consultation to understand the community’s ideas and opinions about this sea pool and will work with the City of Marion to explore other funding opportunities in due course.”