Divisive seaside park shade sail project back on agenda at Holdfast Bay Council

THREE years after local residents fought their local council in court over its plans to erect beachside shade sails — and potentially impact on their sea views — the council is again looking at putting them up.

Hot weather Matthew Sullivan of Sommerton Park kite surfing at Henley Beach South.

HOLDFAST Bay Council is again considering installing shade sails at two coastal reserves, three years after residents fought the move in court because of concerns about losing sea views.

Councillors have voted to look at funding for shade sails at John Miller Reserve in Somerton Park and Wattle Reserve in Hove, as part of their 2016/17 budget discussions.

The move follows the council being forced to abandon plans to install shades at the parks in 2013, amid residents’ concerns about their views being blocked.

The council will also look at installing a shade sail at the Glenelg foreshore playground.

In February 2013, the Environment, Resources and Development Court overturned Holdfast Bay Council’s approval of 6.8m tall shade sails at Wattle Reserve.

In September of the same year, Holdfast Bay withdrew similar plans for John Miller Reserve after residents initiated another court case opposing the project.

Cr Rosemary Clancy told last week’s meeting sails would prevent children getting sunburnt, and attract more people to the playgrounds in hot weather.

“It’s OK for people to say the children just have to put a hat or sunscreen on,” Cr Clancy said.

“As a grandmother, I do all that, but it’s very hot.

“Particularly at John Miller Reserve, it’s very hot with the rubber surface and there’s very little shade.”

Holdfast Bay city assets manager Steve Hodge said regulations had changed, so if the council went ahead with the projects, residents could no longer appeal its decision in the court.

He estimated the work would cost about $150,000.

Council chief executive Justin Lynch said any new design would be “more sensitive” towards residents’ concerns about views.

They could be more transparent, he said.

Cr Mikki Bouchee said the design should be less “in your face” than the previous proposal.

She said the sails could be designed to cover particular parts of the playground such as metal slides.

“We talk about skin cancer but we also need to talk about vitamin D,” Cr Bouchee said.

David Littlefield, one of the Hove residents who opposed the council’s plans in 2013, said he was disappointed residents had not been consulted over the latest push.

“At least last time they said they were going to do it and then we took them to court because they had breached so many of their own development requirements,” Mr Littlefield said.

Mr Lynch said residents would be consulted when the council put in a development application for the shade sails.

TELL US BELOW: Should shades be erected at coastal beaches?