Pictures: SANDRA MORELLO
DEMOLITION works at Mount Gambier’s 65-year-old railway roundhouse site are under way following the transport department signally the start of the structure’s demise.
Heavy machinery moved onto the site this morning to begin the two week demolition process.
While protesters gathered at the site and blocked the entrance to the site, contractors moved in by using another entrance.
The small protest was peaceful with a lone protester moving away from the heavy machinery after police arrived.
News the demolition is imminent sparked a last minute call from campaigners for the fire damaged structure to be saved.
It is understood works were halted yesterday due to the forecast high winds and regional demolition contractors.
Setting up chairs and making frantic calls to heritage bodies at the site yesterday, proponents renewed their call for the State Government to halt demolition.
Demolition works are back on track following the South Australian Heritage Council deciding not to protect the site through state heritage listing.
Campaigner Julianne Woodruff said it appeared the transport department was hell-bent on tearing down the structure, scheduled to be razed over the next nine days.
“The transport department appears to want to plough through and demolish the site, no matter what,” Ms Woodruff said.
She said it appeared the contractors had been told “this was a rush job, get in and get it done”.
Mount Gambier resident Shane Ferrari – who lives near the Webb Street transport depot – called for the transport department to reveal its broader plan for the site and halt the works.
“There must be something we do not know or understand – it is bewildering given there were options to hand the site over to the National Trust SA,” Mr Ferrari told The Border Watch.
“If they knock it down, it will still have the turntable and all the holes in the ground. They are still going to have a hazard with ongoing cost.
“It will be still an eyesore – it does not make sense on any level.”
Firing a broadside at the state transport department, he said the condition of the 14-acre site was disgraceful with the long grass a haven for snakes.
“We could have a real asset here for a low cost, it would cost around $1.5m to build something like this,” Mr Ferrari said.
Roundhouse proponent Wayne Philp – who has been outspoken on the issue – yesterday expressed his anger the site would be levelled.
“This decision is shocking for every leader, whether it is State Government, council and even the Federal Government,” he said.
“This demolition started with Labor and finished with Liberal doing it and City Council should be aware these 14 acres are valuable to the town.”
He hit out at the lack of tourism-related initiatives for Mount Gambier.
“Mount Gambier has nothing compared to its competitors for tourists, some people do not even get out of their car at the Blue Lake.”
He said the artists and creative-makers in Mount Gambier had been calling out for a space for many years.
“Where is the City Council on this? There are makers buildings and groups all over the nation and the world – it is a common thing. Why cannot they see that,” Mr Philp said.
According to Mount Gambier City Council yesterday, the council had no legal control of the site due to it being a crown development.
A spokesperson said a systematic set of photographs documenting the site had been completed, which was a condition of demolition approval.
The transport department also has no requirement to brief council on the demolition schedule.
“They are not required to notify council due to it being State Government owned,” the spokesperson.
Member for Barker Tony Pasin said ultimately the future of the property was a decision for the State Government.
“I note an assessment regarding the heritage value of the property has been made by the relevant State Government authority,” Mr Pasin said.
“Federal funding would only be possible in this case if an application is made by the State Government via the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure as it owns and controls that parcel of land.”
