State government scraps plan to pump sand from Semaphore South to West Beach

The new state government has officially dumped the planned Semaphore sand pipeline to replenish West Beach – and will now go back to the drawing board.

The pipeline project to pump sand from Semaphore South to replenish West Beach has officially been cancelled by the new state government.

The Malinauskas government will on Sunday announce it will make good on a commitment to shelve the project and initiate a review of options.

The government says that breaking the contract with McConnell Dowell for the $38.9m project, signed by the Liberals on the eve of caretaker period for the state election, would come at a cost of less than $700,000.

But it hopes to negotiate with the company on “potential alternative work” that would “reduce or alleviate” the cancellation penalty. Construction was to have started as early as this month.

While another version of the pipeline has not been ruled out, the government says the backlash against the concept from coastal residents would be a key consideration.

Lulani, 5, Georgia, 5, Harrison, 6, and Aonghus, 7 playing in the sand on Adelaide’s West Beach. Picture: Emma Brasier

“All options are on the table in the review, but one of the key considerations of the review will be minimising disruption to beach users and locals,” the spokesman said.

“We have seen how unpopular this pipeline is with locals and their input will be crucial in the development of a long-term plan.”

The former government approved the project after removing a pumping station at Grange from the plan in the face of fierce opposition.

That likely meant having to extend the pipeline as far north as Largs Bay to collect sand, potentially adding $8.5m to a project that had already blown out by $10m.

Infrastructure Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the Liberals “rushed this project in the lead-up to the election … after having four years to come up with a plan that kept sand on West Beach without ruining the enjoyment of the thousands of people who use our beautiful northern beaches.”

But aspiring Liberal leader David Speirs, who was environment minister until the March 19 poll, said the pipeline plan was “actually based on (a previous) Labor government’s successful pipeline between Kingston Park and Glenelg”.

“This would restore beaches such as West Beach which have suffered devastating erosion as well as significantly reducing the amount of trucks on our beaches carting sand,” he said.

“A consistent theme from (new Environment Minister) Susan Close and the Labor Party was opposition for opposition’s sake and their approach to coasts is no different.

“(The cancellation will) only result in worse outcomes for Adelaide’s coastline at a significant cost to taxpayers.”

The Liberals claim the long-term cost of continuing to quarry and truck sand exceeds that of the pipeline.

Dr Close said she would prefer to find a solution that required “less disturbance of the dune system”.

In the meantime, she said, the government would continue to supply sand from elsewhere to West Beach.

“Let me be very clear, West Beach does need to have sand placed on it and that is not negotiable, it is not about abandoning West Beach,” she said.

But surveyor John Dundon of the Save West Beach Sand group said he was worried because his research showed that historically sand levels had been higher under Liberal governments.

Stephen Perry of West Beach, a life member of the local surf lifesaving club, said he felt “nervous” that not enough sand would be delivered to keep the beach attractive and usable.

“I just want the kids to have an opportunity to use the beach,” he said.