Surf’s up at Aldinga with $100 million wave pool approved
A $100 million surf park with 2 metre waves and dozens of short-stay villas has been approved for Aldinga.
The Break Surf & Stay development was given planning consent from Onkaparinga Council last night.
The development is set to be built on a 7 ha site at Tuit Rd, Aldinga, and will feature an 11,700 square metre surf lagoon to provide “on-demand surfing”, with pneumatic wave generating technology creating surf waves up to 2.1 metres high.
A press release says the Break project, developed in partnership with water park designer and supplier Endless Surf, will also include 35 villas for short-stay accommodation, and public amenities including a craft brewhouse and restaurant.
The project was started by Ben McCarthy, Richard Sheppard, Leigh Gapp and Dwight Stuchbery, with advisory firm FinCap involved.
The intended site of the surf pool project at Aldinga. Photo: supplied
Sheppard said The Break had been “an absolute passion project for everyone involved”.
“[It] brings together the best in technology, design and visitor experience while thoughtfully integrating the local environment and surfing community into the overall experience,” he said.
“There is a significant market for health and wellness, active and surf tourism that is largely untapped in South Australia and we believe this transformational project will help to unlock that opportunity.”
The team said The Break could serve as a venue for international surfing competitions upon completion.
Construction is set to begin early next year, with a proposed completion of mid-2026.
They are planning for an estimated 320,000 visits each year.
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The development will include public amenities designed locally. Image: suppliedTourism minister Zoe Bettison said projects like The Break were “critical for South Australia and help drive additional visitors to our beautiful regions”.
“There’s no doubt that the Fleurieu and McLaren Vale are already world-renowned destinations, and The Break will add another layer of wellness and surf-inspired tourism for the region while also driving economic and social outcomes for the local community,” Bettison said.
An estimated 300 construction jobs will be created through the project, including 60 full-time equivalent positions upon the opening of the development.
