A new shared-use path and foreshore park upgrades complement one of the most pristine and popular sections of our coastline.
The recently completed 2.5 kilometre path connects the township of Port Noarlunga with the Jubilee Adventure Playground and the Onkaparinga River mouth, running between Gawler Street, Port Noarlunga, and the Esplanade’s junction with Wembley Street, Port Noarlunga South.
It’s part of the state government’s Coast Park vision: a continuous 70km trail along Adelaide’s metro coastline from Sellicks Beach to North Haven. The latest section completes 15 kilometre of the planned 31 kilometre trail within the City of Onkaparinga.
“I think it’s absolutely brilliant,” says Dick Olesinski, president of the South Port Surf Life Saving Club, which was one of the community groups involved in the consultation process.
“It certainly showcases a wonderful part of the coast.”
Dick says there’s been an exponential growth in visitors to the beach and to various events at the club, which celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2019.
Part of the area’s appeal, Dick says, are the dunes, which are thriving due to the lack of development immediately along the foreshore and the hard work of the local South Port Noarlunga Coastcare Group, the council, and the surf life saving club members.
“They’re the healthiest dunes in metropolitan Adelaide,” Dick says.
City of Onkaparinga Mayor Erin Thompson agrees the area is definitely something special.
“We have one of the most incredible coastlines in Australia and projects like these enable us to showcase and protect our coast, and create an area that can be used and enjoyed by everyone.”
In addition to the two-way shared-use path for walkers and cyclists, the works included coastal revegetation, plus landscaping and improved beach access and view points.
Other parts of the $7 million project — jointly funded by council and the state government — were car park upgrades, barbecues, picnic shelters, tables, public art and a 400 metre long protective rock revetment wall, which, comprising more than 14,000 tonnes of rock from McLaren Vale Quarry, was an engineering feat in its own right.
Watch the construction of the project on YouTube: Foreshore Access Plan Stage 2.