Extra government funding gives Yankalilla Council green light for contentious Normanville foreshore upgrade

The contentious Normanville foreshore upgrade has won an extra $2.1m funding, allowing extra elements of the project, including a public plaza and bigger lawn, to go ahead.

An artist's impression of the Normanville Foreshore & Jetty Caravan Park Masterplan. Picture: Supplied

Yankalilla Council will push ahead with more elements of its contentious Normanville foreshore upgrade after winning another $2.1m in State Government funding.

The council now has the funds to pay for a larger lawn, nature play area, new public plaza, reconfiguration of a boardwalk and works to improve disability access to the jetty.

It had previously agreed to go ahead with a new building for the Normanville Surf Life Saving Club, including a kiosk and 23 new cabins at the council-owned caravan park.

However, it had voted to only go ahead with the other elements of the plan if it received extra government funding to foot the bill.

The overall upgrade is expected to cost $11.7m, and has been the subject of heated community debate amid concerns about its cost, scale, potential impact on the environment and previous plans to remove some carparks.

Yankalilla Council is planning a $11.7m upgrade of the Normanville foreshore, including new cabins in its caravan park. Picture: Supplied

In response, changes were made to the plans to stop development in the area’s “basin” next to the beach, and create a smaller lawn area – but still larger than what’s there now.

Plans to remove carparks from the foreshore have also been reversed, and a move to relocate courts and build a new headquarters for the Normanville Tennis Club will only take place in future years after a business case and consultation are complete.

The extra funding means the council now has $6.8m from the federal and state government and surf life saving club to pay for the works.

Mayor Glen Rowlands said the development’s nature play area would be a drawcard during winter.

“The new plaza is a key element in providing for better connectivity of the foreshore, providing a transition from the surf life saving club and kiosk to the green space and is a meeting place for the community and visitors,” he said.

The council has called for tenders from companies interested in supplying the cabins.

It hopes to begin work on the project in July or August and complete it within two years.

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