Charles Sturt Council hands over plans for stretch of continuous coast path
The State Government has threatened to take control of a long-awaited coast path project from Charles Sturt Council after years of inaction and a Supreme Court battle.
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Frustration over a long-awaited section of coastal path between Grange and Semaphore has hit a peak, with the State Government threatening to take control of the stalled project.
The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure has written to Charles Sturt Council chief executive Paul Sutton advising him that it is considering taking over the project under the Linear Parks Act.
The legislation allows the Government to “establish, maintain and preserve” linear parks throughout the state.
Selecting a route for the path has turned into a stalemate because a group of residents are concerned about it being built close to their properties.
Environmental groups are also worried about the path harming the Tennyson Dunes.
In 2017, the Supreme Court upheld a protest by the Coastal Ecology Protection Group, saying the council had failed to properly consult with residents about its plan to build the concrete and boardwalk path.
The Government has now asked the council to provide previous reports and plans for the project so it can find “a suitable path design”.
Councillors agreed to hand over the documents — including a recent environmental report — on Monday night.
Deputy Mayor Tom Scheffler told the council meeting the Government’s intervention on the project was “heartening”.
The path was to be constructed from Third Ave, Semaphore Park, to Shore Court, West Lakes Shore, meeting the Tennyson Dunes, which is state-owned land.
The Government last year threatened to take back $3.25 million worth of funding for the project because the terms of the grant had expired, but it later backtracked on the idea.
It has been working with six councils to complete a continuous 70km coastal path from Sellicks Beach to North Haven.
The Government has so far spent $43.3 million building 45km of the trail.
The Coastal Ecology Protection Group, Wild Endangered Dunes Group and Planning Minister Stephan Knoll have been contacted for comment.