Close to 200 turn out to oppose sand carting between Semaphore and Largs Bay
Semaphore locals have threatened to stand in front of sand-carting trucks and called for a stop to the program to replenish West Beach.
- 100 sand-carting trucks a day to stream down Semaphore streets
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Angry Semaphore locals have threatened to stand in the way of sand-carting trucks as they prepare for mining to begin on their beach next month.
Nearly 200 members of the public fired up at a forum held by Labor MP for Port Adelaide Susan Close on Wednesday night, venting their frustration at the two-year sand mining program between Semaphore and Largs Bay to replenish West Beach and Henley Beach.
Ms Close told the group gathered at the Semaphore RSL it was unknown how much damage would be done to the beach and how long the effects of sand carting would last.
The event was also addressed by members of local environmental groups and Port Adelaide Enfield councillor David Wilkins.
The Environment Department was approached to send a representative but Ms Close said Environment Minister David Speirs refused because it would be “a waste of valuable departmental time”.
Attendees were invited to ask questions and make statements at the end of the meeting.
One local, Brian Moon, said Semaphore residents had to take the fight against sand carting into their own hands.
“I think Semaphore is a beach for people and animals and birds, it’s not for sand mining,” Mr Moon said.
“We can’t sit and watch the trucks go past. We’ve got to sit in front of the trucks if we have to.”
His proposal received loud applause.
“Back in the ’90s, there were councillors who were prepared to sit in front of the trucks and they stuck to their guns on this issue,” Mr Moon said.
“If someone can organise it, put me on the list.”
He said the only way to “stop these cowboys” from sand carting was to “take action”.
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The gathering also roundly supported calls from former Prospect mayor Matthew Mitchell to delay sand carting until an independent environmental report was produced.
Residents also raised concerns with the fact 100 trucks were set to cart sand through suburban streets each day as part of the program, as exclusively revealed by The Advertiser last month.
The carting of sand from Semaphore is set to begin next month and last for 10 weeks.
The same processes will occur another three times over the next two years.
A State Government spokesman said there was no option but to cart sand in the short term before its planned pipeline could be installed.
“The Department for Environment and Water recently held two community forums with residents and will continue to work with them to minimise the impacts of the sand carting during this important work,” the spokesman said.