Longest decision for shortest path

- Councillors push back Inverloch’s Surf Parade pathway alignment 

UNANIMOUSLY deferred for consideration at a future Council meeting.

That was the consensus of the Surf Parade Inverloch Shared Path Stage 3b Alignment on Wednesday, March 15.

Councillor Leticia Laing moved to defer the pathway which was seconded by Cr Brett Tessari after community consultation.

Highlighting that the deferment was not indefinite, Cr Laing noted that “we want to make sure we have exhausted all our options and preserved the coastal vegetation in that space.”

An initial plan for the shared pathway was endorsed by Council back in August 2019, however, the plan involved the removal of significant native coastal vegetation. The Marine and Coastal Act consent for this stage of the pathway was not supported by DEECA (Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change) and as such new plans were proposed.

In her opening comments, Cr Laing stated that “after the longest consideration for probably the shortest path”, she is committed to providing a pathway for Inverloch, but that the ‘significant’ community objection to the new plans means Council alongside key stakeholders, including the Inverloch Traders Association and community, must continue to work collaboratively to, “find a better outcome and ensure that all options have been exhausted to find an alternative design that hopefully provides parking…

“A wider shared pathway is vital,” Cr Laing continued.

“At the moment, I have the two options presented to me within the original motion and I don’t think that those two options are the best for what the community wants.”

Cr Laing was supported by Cr Tessari who noted his frustration was at least double that of Cr Laing having sat on Council for six and a half years, and still trying to get this pathway over the finish line.

“I do feel for the community,” Cr Tessari stated.

“It’s not as simple as going back to what was originally passed in 2019 because we have in writing that it will not be permitted by DECCA…

“We need to get the community together again; we need to come up with a better option to this last bit of pathway. We need the pathway done. I would love to see it done in my time…

“We need parking sorted out and transport studies done. The Inverloch community feel they’ve been done over by this and I don’t disagree with them. But to continue on this path with what we have now, it’s not right.”

Deputy Mayor, Cr Rochelle Halstead also supported the motion to defer noting that “it’s terrific that the councillors have listened to the community and they want a bit more time to consider the options after listening to the concerns of the community.”

A major consideration in DECCA rejecting the original plan ties to the challenges within the findings of the Cape-to-Cape Resilience Project, which highlighted amongst other things the significant erosion and forecasted sea level rising, making the ‘provision of parking ill-advised’ in such an environmentally sensitive area.

A majority of the Inverloch community have supported the deferment highlighting the sheer importance of parking both during peak periods and throughout the year, and simply pushing cars to neighbouring streets not being a favoured option.