MOUNT Gambier City Council will look to establish a joint planning board in the region to help deliver a fully-integrated transport and land use plan for future growth in the Limestone Coast.
Chief executive officer Andrew Meddle revealed the desire to have a region-focused plan developed following the release of the 20-year State Infrastructure Strategy earlier this week.
He believed a plan would give the State Government a clearer picture of what areas required infrastructure funding in the Limestone Coast.
“Whether it is road, rail, telecommunications or soft infrastructure, we want to pull all those disparate threads together to bring a plan for the region, that is developed in the region as opposed to developed in Adelaide,” he said.
“We do not have any dollars to go behind any project that might be envisaged, but it is certainly something where we are keen to see a plan-led approach as opposed to projects just being at the whim of a minister.”
The plan could canvass the return of rail freight following recent studies which revealed a potential $15.6m for the Limestone Coast’s extensive commodity sector.
“Projects such as this need to be looked at – even though they may not involve much infrastructure in Mount Gambier, they can still deliver a direct benefit to Mount Gambier,” Mr Meddle said.
“People still need to get to Mount Gambier safely or they have got to get their goods out of Mount Gambier if they are producing here and I think that’s where the regional rail link can be explored.”
Mr Meddle said extension of the bustling rail trail was also a project which had come to the fore from a tourism perspective in recent times.
“There is tourism potential that goes with connecting us back with Penola or out to Millicent,” he said.
“Creating those longer rides or walks for people could be looked at as part of our developing tourism offer.”
Reflecting on the previous three months, Mr Meddle said the COVID-19 pandemic would no doubt have an impact on the infrastructure strategy for the next 20 years.
However, he believed the provincial cities, such as Mount Gambier, were all capable of some significant growth and expansion.
“This can happen without the detriment of their country character, they all have the ability to capitalise on the good things that we have in this State,” he said.
“We are a very city-centric state, but that might be another spin-off of the pandemic, that people recognise regional centres as safe places, with good shopping centres, good dining options, good healthcare and the list goes on.
“We are really blessed here with what we have and I hope others see the same potential.”
