Yankalilla Council’s ‘Gold Coast’ vision for Normanville sparks residents’ protest

Normanville would turn into something reminiscent of a Gold Coast theme park, a former councillor has claimed, ahead of fresh protests against the redevelopment plan.

Normanville Foreshore’s upgrade will receive $6.8 million in external funding. Picture: Supplied

Normanville foreshore’s $11.6m upgrade has sparked a protest planned for Tuesday, with the project described by one former councillor as a “Gold Coast” style development.

Resident Ruth Trigg said locals were concerned Yankalilla Council’s upgrade plan, which includes 23 new cabins at the local caravan park, and a new Normanville Surf Life Saving Club building and cafe, would ruin the area’s visual appeal and its “intimate” character.

“The foreshore is a very fragile area and yet we feel as if we’re being forced into an overdriven kind of development that people don’t want,” said Ms Trigg, who served as a Yankalilla councillor from 2018-2019.

Artist's impressions of the Normanville Foreshore & Jetty Caravan Park Masterplan. Picture: Supplied

Ms Trigg likened the plans to a “Gold Coasty theme park”.

She said much smaller upgrades would suffice at the foreshore’s existing surf life saving club and kiosk, and there was no need for a nature playground because “kids play on the beach”.

Amid Covid-19, the event, on Tuesday, July 6, will not be a traditional protest, but organisers are encouraging locals to drop by the event, outside Yankalilla Council chamber from 3-4pm, and fill out a survey on the plan.

Ms Trigg said more work was needed to address environmental issues in the area, and people were also worried about the amount of debt the council was taking on for the project.

During consultation, more than 375 people gave feedback to the council’s contentious plans.

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

Yankalilla chief executive Nigel Morris said the project would receive $6.8m of external funding, with $4.9m coming from the council.

Debt taken out for the project would help raise revenue through leases with the surf life saving club and kiosk operators and fees paid by people staying at the caravan park.

The results of a tender for the cabins would be presented to elected members today, with a decision on the designs likely to be made this month.

He said their elevation and height was likely to be “very similar” to the park’s existing cabins.

Changes, including no development in Normanville’s “basin” area, alterations to parking plans and the introduction of a nature play area, were made in response to feedback.

“The council has made a lot of adjustments over the last six months,” Mr Morris said.

He said the existing surf life saving club building no longer met Surf Life Saving South Australia’s minimum requirements.

Mr Morris believed the majority of locals now supported the plans.

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