Project update

After listening to the communities feedback, Council resolved that a revised scope and budget for the Sugars Beach Project be submitted as part of next year's 2023/24 Annual Business Plan process for consideration and that the remaining budget of $1,350,000 previously allocated to the Sugars Beach project be returned to Council at the mid-year budget review.

Council acknowledged the feedback from the community to limit the project to toilet facilities and interpretive signage and to ensure that the area be kept as natural as possible. It is considered that further work is required to determine appropriate capacity of toilets, and the location of toilets that take into account cultural or environmental constraints.

About the project

Introduction

Sugars Beach is located at the end of the Murray River (Murray Mouth) on Hindmarsh Island. The current infrastructure and public amenities are underwhelming and in need of upgrades to improve the visitor experience and meet the potential of this iconic location.

Upgrades will seek to address this and raise awareness of the location’s status as an environmentally and culturally significant site.

Sugars Beach currently has limited formal pathway connections to its surrounding environment. There are no permanent structures to share information or provide visitors with the necessary facilities that encourage exploration, environmental awareness or an extended stay.

Proposed improvements aim to encourage visitors to seek and explore the rich cultural stories of the Ngarrindjeri people; to connect with its people, food, water and wildlife, to discover the story of the Murray River and the importance of water flows for river health, and then go on to explore the Coorong - the ‘Karangk’.

Project status

Council has been working towards developing an overarching Master Plan to guide improvements and upgrades in the area. In 2021, a detailed business case was developed to understand the opportunities and constraints of the location and to attract funding from other levels of Government, given its State and National significance.

In early 2022, Council secured $1M from State Government, subject to Federal Government funding (currently awaiting an outcome) to partner with Council’s $1M allocated from the Annual Business Plan and Budget 2022-23. This will be along with $350K from the capital program expenditure allocated.

Preliminary feedback received from the community helped inform revisions to the original plan including essential infrastructure elements and Council is now seeking broad community and stakeholder views on upgrade priorities for budgeting and future improvements.

A drop-in session was held from 4:30pm until 6:30pm on Thursday, 18 August 2022 at the Council Chamber, 11 Cadell St, Goolwa.