Charles Sturt ratepayers left with $1 million bill for failed bid to build coastal path

A LOCAL council will be forced to spend close to $1 million to cover the costs of a failed bid to build a coast path.

Coastal Ecology Protection group spokeswoman Monique Webber with mum Wendy (left) and sons Tennyson and William.

A LOCAL council will be forced to spend close to $1 million to cover the costs of a failed bid to build a coast path.

Charles Sturt Council has been ordered to pay 90 per cent of the legal costs incurred by the Coastal Ecology Protection Group in their Supreme Court fight to stop the walking and cycling path going through sand dunes at Tennyson.

In his ruling last week, Justice Malcolm Blue also ordered the council to pay 40 per cent of the costs for an expert witness called by the residents’ group in the almost year-long Supreme Court trial.

Those legal costs are expected to total as much as $250,000.

The council has spent at least $340,000 on its own legal fees for the trial and another $400,000 designing the initial project, which takes its total damage bill for the ill-fated coastal path to close to $1 million.

“The amount of ratepayers’ money that has been wasted on this issue is disgraceful,” Coastal Ecology Protection group spokeswoman Monique Webber said.

“The council’s lack of consideration of the environment in planning this path, plus their ... lack of consultation with the community, could cost Charles Sturt ratepayers approximately $1 million.”

Last month, the Supreme Court upheld a protest by the Coastal Ecology Protection Group and rejected the council’s plan to build a path from Semaphore to Grange going through the sand dunes at Tennyson.

Justice Blue ruled in favour of the residents, saying the council had failed to properly consult with the residents about its plan to build the concrete and boardwalk path.

The residents’ group argued the 3m-wide trail would destroy the fragile dunes, while the council believed it would improve people’s access to the coastline.

The council is considering its options in the wake of the court ruling, although it is not saying what they are at this stage.

The council’s chief executive Paul Sutton said it was awaiting the group’s invoiced cost and weighing up options.

“We are looking internally for savings that can be made for this substantial unbudgeted amount so that we minimise the impact of these legal costs on our community,” Mr Sutton said.

“Staff are working toward a solution in light of the recent judgment that provides community access along the coast consistent with the objectives of (the) Coast Park.”

The council previously considered three other routes, including some along Military and Seaview roads, which would have avoided the dunes.

The path was to be part of a 70km trail along the metropolitan coastline which is being funded by the State Government and councils.