Elisabeth Champion
Frances was in the spotlight last month, as the Naracoorte Lucindale Council met there for their monthly meeting.
Presenting a deputation on the night was Frances Progress Association chairperson Danielle Moore, who addressed issues within Frances.
One key issue raised was the mowing of the town, which has historically been done by residents.
“Probably one of the big issues that it’s been bubbling away for a long time but it’s sort of critical point that we need to address is the general maintenance of mowing of the town,” she said.
“I know it’s factored into the Strategic plan, and there’s an allocation in there for provision of, I think $2500 for mowing or something like that.
“We’ve got volunteers that have been doing that.
“They aren’t able to do that anymore. We really believe, as a community, , we shouldn’t even have to be requesting the town to be mowed, pruned, Town Center to be maintained, that should just be part of the general operational works that exist.
“I’m pretty sure no one in Naracoorte does – I know they might ring up to say ‘hurry up and mow Memorial Oval quicker’ but they don’t have to bring up the request for those things to happen, they just happen, and they’re all ratepayers out here.
“I don’t think it’s an unreasonable request to say, and it’s not our job either to say when they should come and mow, the skill set exists within the general maintenance group to say obviously there’s going to be more mowing happening in the spring and less in summer.”
She also asked if the council could assist in advocating for better maintenance at the railway site at the silo area.
It has been an ongoing issue for many years, with the limited maintenance leaving long grass which is a fire risk, and looks unsightly.
“If there’s an opportunity for council, whether it’s a letter, it just needs to be regularly slashed,’ Ms Moore said.
“That’s our issue. It has been spoken about fencing it off and maybe putting sheep in there, but there’s no water points there and who pays for the fencing?
“The most practical solution is really for it to be regularly slashed, from fire prevention and even just this general appeal of the town as well.”
She said one of the positives to have occurred in town was the installation of the BMX track, which had already proven popular.
The Frances Progress Association is working hard to improve recreational offerings in the town, including upgrades to the Football clubrooms and Netball courts.
