NPSP Blocking Access to Billabong

In this article:

ICAC States "Accessibility to public land is important."

NPSP have decided to block access to the top of the billabong and have begun erecting a fence. SPRA do not support this action and believe that residents and visitors should be able to take in some of the best views of the billabong, as captured by council in their land use policy.

The ESCOS Advice to Local Government highlighted a lack of consultation and transparency by the NPSP council. SPRA would argue this is another example of a poor outcome for residents due to a lack of consultation.

 

This is the view that council want to stop you from seeing.

View over top of billabong

If there are safety concerns, SPRA suggests that council could erect a fence similar to that used along the steep edges of the linear park and remove the cyclone mesh fence along the car park. This sketch uses the boundary identification survey from 2020, which can be found on the billabong documents page.

sketch of alternative fence

ICAC Report into NPSP Risks Associated with Enforcement Power

The Integrity State Corruption prevention recommendations report authored by the Hon. Ann Vanstone KC, Commissioner and published in September 2023 on page 20 has a section titled Risks associated with enforcement powers which focused on failures at the City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters.

These are the opening paragraphs (emphasis ours)

The Commission investigated allegations of corruption among council officers. It was reported that officers ignored the encroachment of several private properties onto council land upon receiving inducements from property owners. The allegations were not substantiated.

Accessibility to public land is important. Complaints that residents are unlawfully appropriating public land ought to be promptly investigated and addressed.

Commission investigators were told that after investigating a complaint of encroachment, an officer concluded erroneously that there was no encroachment. No justification for this conclusion was documented. At the same time, other council staff were aware there was an encroachment; but this information was not provided to the investigating officer.

Mistakes of this nature raise suspicion.

SPRA has been unable to find evidence that the recommendations have been adopted by council or acted on. There is concern that councillors may not be fully aware of the magnitude of this report and the recommendations of ICAC.

SPRA are curious how ICAC would judge the council's actions to block access against the statement that "Accessibility to public land is important."

Letters from Candidates

SPRA are providing links to letters that candidates have written to residents so that they may make an informed decision on this issue. SPRA take no responsibility for the content of these letters. We consider the St Peters Billabong an important place for the community that should be protected. We are also sharing the letters in this Facebook Post. If you have comments they can be added there.

If you are a candidate who like your letter referenced here, please contact us.

Cressida O'Hanlon - Labor

A few residents received a letter on 4 March 2026 from Cressida.

This section references the fence:

Council has advised that fencing with gates will be installed and secured with padlocks, meaning access to the area will be restricted.

This section appears to reference the encroachment referenced by ICAC:

"In relation to the fencing installed by some adjoining property owners, I have raised the issue directly with Council on behalf of residents and sought clarification regarding the property boundaries in this area. Council has advised that legal property boundaries are determined through formal land surveys undertaking when properties are brought and sold, and that it does not consider the current situation alters the legal ownership of land."

Anna Finizio - Liberal

Anna is distributing a letter to residents.

The letter opens with this statement about the lack of action:

Many of you have raised with me your concerns about the Council’s decision to restrict public access to the Billabong as well the ongoing issue around the private fence encroachment. The lack of action and accountability on this matter has left the community incredibly frustrated.

The letter also includes this promise to provide better access:

If elected, we will invest $10 million into Linear Park for environmental and recreational improvements as part of the Linear Park Connection Project. This will enable Council to make improvements to the Billabong to make it more accessible (not less) to our local community. I understand residents would love to see various improvements to the area, these funds can be used for improved facilities as well as environmental restoration.

Ian McBryde - Independent

Ian sent this to SPRA via email on 17 March 2026.

Dear Residents

I too am quite concerned about this situation. From the material I have seen to date, it is clear that this matter leaves serious unanswered questions. The ICAC report in particular brought the NPSP Council actions and decisions into question. I have been told by council they have dealt with the matters raised. The two matters:

  • The encroachment and
  • the placement of the safety fence

could be seen as separate but appear unlikely to be. There seems to be no question that the most recent encroachment should be removed and returned to the actual surveyed boundary. The second action by Council could have been a safety fence along a safe distance from the edge of the cliff face if safety was their concern, rather than blocking public access to the area. It also risks creating a precedent for others to follow ie. the apparent illegal acquiring of Council land. These two actions should be addressed and acted upon at the earliest opportunity. Currently there is considerable erosion of public trust in the local government council due to this investigation and the recent exorbitant spending on council works.

If I get the opportunity to act on these matters following Saturday I will be doing so ASAP.

Ian McBryde
Turn the tide with Ian McBryde
Candidate for the seat of Dunstan
Truly Independent
ian4dunstan@gmail.com

Authorised by I. McBryde, 48a Maesbury St, Kensington, SA, 5086