Residents out in force at Semaphore Beach to oppose sand carting
Dozens of protesters have again converged on Semaphore to oppose government plans to cart sand to other Adelaide beaches as part of a $48.4 million coastal rescue plan.
West & Beaches
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A group of protesters gathered at Semaphore Beach this morning to oppose the State Government’s plans to cart sand from the area to other eroding beaches.
The group staged a demonstration in front of sand dunes where a path would be widened to allow trucks on to the beach.
A temporary fence was partly erected around the path on Monday but contractors ultimately left because of disruption by local activists.
The contractors returned this morning before 6am but once again left because of the protests.
Police arrived at the beach shortly after 9am to speak with the protesters but left shortly after.
Semaphore resident Matthew Mitchell said he woke this morning for a walk to see the workers had returned and other locals soon assembled.
Mr Mitchell said he and others had no intention of backing down from their opposition to the sand carting works at Semaphore.
“The contractors have left again but we suspect they’ll return shortly,” Mr Mitchell said.
“I’m going to exercise my right as a citizen to sit on the beach and that’s what I’m doing now and that’s where I intend to stay.”
The sand carting project will see up to 100 trucks cart sand from Semaphore to West Beach and Henley Beach.
The trucks will operate from 7am to 5pm on weekdays for up to 10 weeks at a time, and the carting will occur three or four times over the next two years.
Environment Minister David Speirs said sand carting was a “necessary short-term measure” to replenish southern beaches.
“Sand carting from Semaphore is part of routine coastal management which has been occurring at South Australian beaches for decades,” Mr Speirs said.
Multiple local environmental groups have voiced their opposition to the sand carting program.
Port Adelaide Enfield Council has also called for a full environmental impact study to be released before any sand is taken from Semaphore.
It is one of several protests in recent months, with hundreds of residents speaking out against the Government’s coastal rescue plan that will see sand taken from Semaphore and Largs to Henley and West beaches.
A $48.4 million sand pipeline to reverse the natural flow of sand north will be implemented by 2022 — but trucks would have to be used in the meantime.