CONCERNS have been raised over the “fire hazard and mess” left behind in wake of the roundhouse demolition along Mount Gambier’s rail corridor.
Mount Gambier councillor Paul Jenner raised the issue of land maintenance along the corridor, which borders the northern fringe of Hastings Cunningham Reserve at a recent City Council meeting.
Cr Jenner said overgrown weeds were an “eyesore” which should be better maintained, requesting a letter be written to the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.
Explaining the area “just grows weeds”, Cr Jenner mooted the transformation of the area into parkland to complement The Rail.
“We can begin by speaking with the government and see if they wish to dispose of the land,” Cr Jenner said.
“If we can get a hold of the land then we can come up with a vision for it and speak to the National Trust SA about the old turntable being a part of it.
“It grows weeds, there could be snakes and it is in our city so it is better if council gets a hold of the land and at least maintains it until we can obtain a vision on what to do with it.”
National Trust SA Mount Gambier branch chairman Nathan Woodruff agreed with Cr Jenner’s sentiments, stating it was unfortunate it remained an “eyesore”.
“The area has become quite a fire hazard and a mess,” Mr Woodruff said.
“It is really disgraceful to see something like that accompanying something like the rail trail, which has been a huge project undertaken by the council and has really lifted that part of the town.”
Stating he was disappointed with the support shown by the last council, Mr Woodruff said the governing body “needed to take an active role” in ensuring the department kept the land maintained.
“If this was just a private person living in the centre of town the council would be pretty quick about making them clean it up, but hopefully with the change of elected members they can have a bit more foresight and planning,” Mr Woodruff said.
With heritage tourism at its peak, Mr Woodruff said the land had potential.
“There is a lot of heritage here which can be utilised because of the booming tourism factor at the moment,” he said.
“It could at least be vegetated and maintained to make it look a lot more beautiful than what it is at the moment.
“I think initially it should not be the City Council’s responsibility either to undertake it, that should be the department’s.”
According to Mr Woodruff, the land has not been maintained to a high standard in roughly 20 years and he believes it is time council “spent a bit more money on making the area look better”.
“With the right vision it could be something iconic for Mount Gambier,” Mr Woodruff said.
A transport department spokesperson said the land was maintained consistent with its disused railway status.
“The department ensures no fire risk is present through periodic removal of vegetation and addresses complaints as they arise,” the spokesperson said.
“The long term strategic benefit of retaining railway corridors while assessing opportunities for more immediate re-purposing is a departmental objective and is demonstrated by council’s shared use path which opened between Pick and White avenues in 2017.”
