Shack owners raise river hazard alarm

SHACK owners and community leaders have called for the environment department to begin “urgent” works along the Glenelg River’s public walkway at Donovans amid growing fears of a possible tragedy.

The call follows parts of the public access walkway at the popular angling and tourism town of Donovans breaking away from erosion and neglect.

With the bumper tourism Easter period approaching, fears have been raised a child could slip and drown in the waterway.

The erosion has been triggered by the demolition of shacks by the former State Labor Government and major flooding from the recent opening of the Glenelg River mouth.

It is understood the department has not reinforced areas of the embankment where shacks had been forcibly removed.

The issue has hit flashpoint for some shack owners who can now only access their structures by boat.

While the department has cordoned some areas, shack owner and Donovans resident Jack Houlihan warned the condition of the upstream walkway from the landing area was “simply dangerous”.

“Hundreds of people will come to Donovans over Easter,” Mr Houlihan said.

Taking The Border Watch yesterday on the tour of the deteriorated walkway, the keen angler said the shacks were removed by the environment department during the former Labor Government regime but the embankment had not been reinforced.

“They pulled them down, walked away and allowed the erosion to occur,” Mr Houlihan said.

Parts of the walkway are now littered with rock, uneven ground, broken timber and significant erosion.

Daryl Selvidge – who regularly uses a shack upstream from the Donovan’s landing – said the shack owners were not allowed to upgrade the public walkway because it was crown land.

“All the erosion has been done where all the shacks had been pulled down. They will not let us do anything – that’s the problem,” Mr Selvidge said.

He also flagged concerns over the hazardous condition of the walkway.

“Easter is our biggest weekend here. It is bigger than Christmas – all the shacks will be full,” Mr Selvidge explained.

“I also worry about the public who wander down here and fish.”

Grant District Council chief executive officer David Singe said council staff have held talks with the department over the condition of the walkway.

He said the walkway was the responsibility of the department and was not under council’s jurisdiction.

“Council shares the concerns being raised about the walkway,” Mr Singe said.

Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell said he has approached Environment Minister David Speirs this week on the issue.

Describing the situation as potentially dangerous, he called for the environment department to address the problem ahead of the Easter/school holidays.

“I have asked the minister to come and look at it with me, which he has indicated he will do during his next visit,” Mr Bell said.

Glenelg River Shack Association president Brett Orr said the department was “aware” of the erosion issue.

“They are looking to do some work, but they are waiting to get some funding freed up to it,” Mr Orr said.

“I have written to the Minister to outline our concerns about it.”

The Border Watch contacted the Department for Environment and Water.