Australian Democrats leader Mike Elliott has called on the South Australian Government to take full control of all coastal development.

The move comes in the wake of outrage at the bulldozing of sand dunes at Largs Bay to make way for a bike and walking trail.

Mr Elliott says we need a clear set of guidelines to ensure only appropriate development is allowed on our sensitive coastlines.

"I am strongly supportive of a coastal bikeway and development around South Australia generally, but clear, enforceable guidelines must be in place to assist local government in its decision making," he says.

"Right around South Australia there are development applications which are unsuitable, such as at Beachport in the south east where development has been proposed on a coastline where there is active sand movement.

"It will create another problem like Glenelg."

The Largs Bay development will feed into the State Government’s Coast Park plan, which also raises the spectre of further erosion of our few remaining metropolitan dunes.

"Will the bulldozing of the path at Largs Bay set a precedent for other areas, such as the dunes running past Minda Home at Hove?" says Mr Elliott.

"The State Government must act now to take control of coastal planning to ensure we stop any further erosion of our coastlines."