Bike path to bypass sensitive Tennyson dune system
A SHARED cycling and walking path linking 75km of Adelaide's coast will be diverted from the Tennyson Dunes, the State Government has decided.
A SHARED cycling and walking path linking 75km of Adelaide's coast will be diverted from the Tennyson Dunes, the State Government has decided.
The decision has been called "heavy-handed" by a Charles Sturt cycling group and a councillor, who said the path could have been created without damaging the dunes, but has been backed by the mayor and local residents.
Environment and Conservation minister Ian Hunter said he had begun the process of dedicating the 22ha dune system as a Coastal Conservation Reserve which would give it extra protection against development and funding for its preservation.
"The Tennyson Dunes are a unique part of the metropolitan Adelaide coastline," Mr Hunter said.
"There has been much community concern expressed about the environmental impact on the dunes by building a shared pathway."
The dunes, which are covered with natural grass and shrubs, are the last remaining example of what Adelaide's coast looked like pre-European settlement.
What do you think of the cycle path decision? Leave your comment below.
During community consultation, neighbours raised concerns the path would slash their property values, increase collisions between cyclists and pedestrians and destroy the dunes' fragile ecosystem.
Charles Sturt Bicycle User Group co-ordinator Paul Anderson said the decision was made without adequately considering alternative routes for the path.
"Everyone agrees with the decision to make the dunes a conservation park but there are many examples interstate where bike paths have been carefully designed to run through such parks without causing any damage," Mr Anderson said.
He said the only option now would be to widen sections of the pathway along the western side of Military Rd and allow the path to go through the Tennyson Dunes carpark.
What do you think of the cycle path decision? Leave your comment below.
Charles Sturt Mayor Kirsten Alexander said staff would consult with the community to work on an alternative path around the dunes.
"This will enable us to connect into the West Lakes area and make some important links to key sites," Ms Alexander said.
But Henley Ward councillor Robert Randall said the decision discriminated against cyclists.
"There is already a north-south pathway through the Tennyson dunes used by walkers and joggers with their dogs," Cr Randall said.
He said directing cyclists onto Military Rd would break the planned shared walking and cycling link along the coast between North Haven and Sellick's Beach.
Staff from the Environment Department have begun consulting with representatives from the Transport Department to decide an alternate route for the path.
The 4.8km between Terminus St, Grange, to Recreational Pde, Semaphore Park, is the last Charles Sturt stretch of the path to be built.
What do you think of the cycle path decision? Leave your comment below.