Port MacDonnell’s “one-stop shop” anniversary

DOUBLE DIGIT BIRTHDAY: Port MacDonnell Community Complex coordinator Narelle Pignotti encouraged community members to attend an event marking the 10th anniversary of the council-owned facility.

By Raquel Mustillo

PORT MacDonnell community members will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the coastal town’s landmark community complex later this month.

Grant District Council will host an event to mark the 10-year birthday of the council-owned “one-stop shop” on November 15 at the Charles Street facility.

The $1.3m facility opened its doors in 2011 after years of discussion of a central information point for all available council and local community services.

Described as the brainchild of former complex coordinator Eve Carlin and ex-Grant council chief executive Russel Peate, the 1100 square metre building includes a library and children’s area, play centre, visitor information centre, volunteer resource centre and a banking agency.

Situated behind the town’s former Rural Transaction Centre, the centre also includes an art space, kitchen, computers and meeting rooms.

The facility also houses the Port MacDonnell and District Maritime Museum, with the region’s valuable artefacts moving from the cramped space in the 1876 building in Meylin Street into a dedicated 450 square metre section.

The museum also includes a display of at least 30 known shipwreck sites along the region’s coast.

Port MacDonnell Community Complex coordinator Narelle Pignotti encouraged community members to attend the celebratory event and view the latest additions and upgrades to the facility.

Ms Pignotti said the complex had recently purchased a new PlayStation and virtual reality goggles as part of the facility’s youth wing.

“The complex provides a service, in terms of we have Centrelink services here, there are council services where people can pay their rates or register their dogs, get driving lessons, but the complex also has an important role as the town’s hub,” she said.

“People find this space not so intimidating than other places, it’s a lot quieter, it’s relaxing, they don’t have to make bookings and they can just hang out.

“It’s really important to have a space like this for kids in Port MacDonnell, because of the weather.

“It’s equally as important for this space to be accessible to more vulnerable members of the community, especially people who might live alone, so they can have social interaction and feel as if they are part of the community.”

Council and community funding totalled around $700,000 for the project, the Rann State Government contributed almost $500,000, the South Australian Tourism Commission provided $50,000 and $17,000 was granted through the Federal Government’s Regional Local Community Infrastructure Program.