Major support for Tennyson coast path paves way for long-awaited project to begin
After years of delays – and a court battle – the coast path at Tennyson looks set to go ahead with nearly 88 per cent of people supporting it in a new State Government survey.
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An important piece of Adelaide’s long-awaited non-stop coast path is set to go ahead after public consultation showed overwhelming support.
Nearly 88 per cent of respondents to the State Government’s survey on the proposed path, from Semaphore Park through to Tennyson, wanted it to proceed.
It will pave the way for the first stage of construction to begin between Third Ave, Semaphore Park – where the path now abruptly stops – and the Tennyson Dunes Conservation Reserve, where a natural path already exists.
A second stage will be later built south of the dunes.
The news has been welcomed by cycling and walking groups.
The plan has been marred by years of delay, caused by opposition from nearby residents and a Supreme Court case in which Charles Sturt Council was found to have undertaken inadequate consultation.
A total of 649 people responded to the government survey – only 58 of whom said they were opposed to the new path.
It would be built from concrete, which the government has previously said will have no environmental impact.
Infrastructure Minister Stephan Knoll said the results “speak for themselves”.
“There’s certainly an overwhelming majority within the community that want the public coast path to continue along this stretch providing a cycling and walking link along our beautiful metropolitan coastline for everyone to enjoy,” Mr Knoll said.
Port Adelaide Bicycle User Group secretary Sam Powrie welcomed the results of the survey and said the path would be an asset for the whole of Adelaide.
“The whole community walks, rides bikes, needs recreation facilities and is likely to have an interest in the natural environment,” Mr Powrie said.
He said the path would not harm the beachside environment and would instead “ensure greatly increased community awareness of the value of the coastal dune environment and the need for its preservation”.
Geoffrey Reed, from the Wild Endangered Dunes Group, said he was not surprised by the survey results but would continue to push for a natural path, rather than concrete.
“It is a function of modern government, particularly when they do these populist surveys, to frame the questions like motherhood statements,” Mr Reed said.
“We’ve said all along that we just want a natural path, and everyone can use that, probably with the exception of skateboarders.”
The government last year took control of the project from Charles Sturt Council under the Linear Parks Act to bring an end to lengthy delays.
It has so far spent $43.3 million building 45km of the trail – which will eventually become a 70km stretch from North Haven to Sellicks Beach.