Charlotte Varcoe
GLENELG River shacks at Donovans may no longer be considered ‘dry shacks’ with Grant District Council supporting a major project.
At council’s meeting this week, elected members unanimously agreed to pursue both waterway and walkway renovations at the popular tourist attraction which would allow for shower and toilet facilities for the shacks.
The council’s decision came following concerns surrounding the destruction of the walkway along the shacks with the Department of Environment and Water needing to reconstruct the area after only 12 months following failures due to rising river levels.
With the renovation of the walkway once again in the pipeline, both elected members and Glenelg River Shack Association members seized the opportunity to also include wastewater services to be installed at the same time.
Association member Brett Orr addressed elected members at the council meeting, stating the commitment from both bodies was welcome within the Donovans community.
“The association believes this is an amazing opportunity to build an asset that draws in the community and eco-tourists alike,” Mr Orr said.
“We believe this opportunity for care and control needs the input of the shack community, council and department to come together and agree on the best design for the walkway so that all parties can agree on the best design for the walkway.
“I would urge council to take a proactive step to clearly outline the non-negotiables of the walkway upgrade so care and control is realised and can seek to build the vision for the generations to come.”
Mr Orr said it was a positive step for the shacks to be connected to the local wastewater scheme, stating no lessee would opt for a dry shack and the community believed this option was not consistent with holiday accommodation purposes or ratepayers needs.
“The only future for the shacks in the long term is to connect to the community waste management scheme or another that meets the SA Health requirements and be levied the same as the ratepayers in the shire,” Mr Orr said.
Grant District Council acting chief executive Leith McEvoy said the next step for the project was for council and the department to come up with designs and budget estimates before presenting the findings to elected members for approval.
“The Local Government Association is also very supportive of this project and state it is sitting at the top of their priority list,” Mr McEvoy said.
“The intent is for the shacks to be connected together rather than individually and, although they may have to have their own holding tank and pump, it will help get the wastewater up into the area near the new Donovans toilet facility.”
Mr McEvoy said the system was expected to go underwater at some stage due to the rise in the river and that the pipes would need to be protected.
Other visions for the future of the area include floating pontoon jetties between each removed shack for the use of anglers, kayakers and the general public.
Currently the area has only one jetty dedicated to public use for angling.
