Tyler Redway
THE Naracoorte Lucindale District Council will investigate the opportunity to gain control of a vacant property behind the Naracoorte Returned Services League (RSL) Bowling Club, as well as the existing rail corridor running from MacDonnell Street to Sandstone Avenue.
The motion with notice, brought forward by Cr Andrew Downward during the latest council meeting, aimed to use the vacant property as a means to extend Riverside Drive so it could intersect with Sandstone Avenue.
Cr Downward’s motion suggested the rail corridor would benefit from being under council’s control along with the vacant property, while fitting with the council’s plans for creek bank beautification.
Cr Downward said the intersection would “dynamically change” how the town functioned from the two roads.
“The first thing to do with the owners of the block is to find out if they are willing to part with it and if they are not then the whole thing won’t happen,” Cr Downward said
“At this stage I just wanted to see if we could look at the opportunity to extend that road so it opens up the area of Riverside Drive for the benefit of the town.”
Cr Downward’s proposal was originally set to be lapsed due to the lack of a seconder before Cr Darren Turner voted in favour of the topic during discussion.
“That piece of land is actually quite strategic and there is no guarantee the RSL Bowling Club will be there indefinitely,” Cr Turner said.
“It would dynamically change how the town functions from Riverside Drive to Sandstone Avenue.
“It wouldn’t take a lot, if the RSL isn’t willing to come up for it then it becomes invalid but I do think it’s worthy of the question being asked because it is a huge piece of land which is very strategic and could make Riverside Drive very different to change some of the traffic which has to flow through.”
Naracoorte Lucindale Council chief executive Trevor Smart said the council underwent an “initial assessment” of the vacant property after receiving Cr Downward’s initial motion.
Mr Smart estimated the project would cost a total of about $1.1m for the work on sealed roads and other procedures.
Cr Peter Ireland said the cost was “astounding”, particularly for ratepayers, but agreed the possibility should not be abandoned.
“With the potential of long vehicle parking and the access of Riverside Drive to open it right up, I just think it could be something perhaps we could have a bit of a look at,” Cr Ireland said.
“Just as long as there is not a financial commitment at this very early stage because we are only looking to explore.”
Cr Downward said the rail corridor would serve as an additional benefit to the potential extension to the vacant property, which he said would act similarly to the Mount Gambier/Berrin Railway Lands.
“It is pretty difficult to beautify an area when you have a rail ballast going through it, so if we were able to do that and turn it into parklands then it would be a huge benefit for the town,” he said.
“Pretty much anywhere you go in Australia where there is a water course running through town, it becomes a focal point for the town whereas ours tends to be treated like a sewer.
“Given the government allowed the Mount Gambier City Council to allow that part of the town to undergo beautification.
“I think this request would be very much in keeping with that (the Railway Lands).”
Cr Craig McGuire said the rail corridor site contained contaminated soil which had not been moved since it was last discussed.
Cr McGuire said it would be difficult to deal with multiple tons of contaminated soil if it was required to move it for beautification.
Cr Damien Ross said it would be more beneficial for the council to find ways to access the rail corridor without the full acquisition of the land so they would not need to deal with any responsibilities such as contaminated soil.
“My thinking of the worst case scenario was that if you acquire something then you become the custodian of anything which could come out of it down the track,” Cr Ross said.
“We all know the rail corridor has inherent contamination with it so if we acquire it now then we could be taking on any future responsibility which could come from it.
“If we just had access to it just to beautify it then we wouldn’t need to take on the responsibility of something which might happen down the track.”
