Hallett Cove sea pool a step closer

A $50,000 study into a proposed sea pool at Hallett Cove will go ahead, after Marion Council voted to kick in the remaining funds to make it happen.

Joshua Harkness is running a campaign calling for a Seapool at Hallett Cove in Adelaide. Picture: AAP/ Morgan Sette

• The push for Adelaide’s only seaside tidal pool

A $50,000 study into a proposed sea pool at Hallett Cove will go ahead, after Marion Council voted to kick in the remaining funds to make it happen.

Work on the study will concentrate on whether building a tidal pool could help reduce erosion and replenish sand along the rocky shore.

The State Government had already committed $25,000 on the proviso that the council match that amount.

It followed a petition led by resident Josh Harkness earlier this year, lobbying for the pool to be built.

More than 4700 people have backed his call to build the pool, which would sit at the water’s edge, filling up with the tide.

Cr Ian Crossland told last night’s meeting the money was “a small amount” to test whether the proposal could help fix erosion and protect the local environment.

However, he said the council would need to consider parking issues in the popular area before any structure was built.

“If we’re building a substantial sea pool, we’ll need a substantial car parking increase,” Cr Crossland said.

Tidal pools are popular interstate, but the only one in South Australia is at Edithburgh on the Yorke Peninsula.

Cr Jerome Appleby opposed the council chipping in $25,000, saying if it half-funded the study, it may be expected to cover the cost of building the structure, too.

But Cr Janet Byram said it was clear the community was keen to explore the project.

“I think we need to answer the questions that are out there about the pool, that have been going around for a couple of years,” Cr Byram said.

It is not yet known how much building the tidal pool would cost.