Chris Oldfield, Naracoorte Community News

A multi-million dollar overhaul to spruce up Naracoorte, changing it from a service centre for surrounding districts into a “thriving economic community hub” is the aim of a 71-page Naracoorte Town Centre Rejuvenation Plan.

The plan boasts reduced speed limits, night lights, a big outdoor screen in the town square, sculptures and art opportunities, one-way streets, angle parking, street levelling and access for disabled people.

Long vehicle parking for caravans and camper trailers, more street trees and improved signage also form part of the plan.

With a $50,000 budget for planning consultants, Naracoorte Lucindale Council last October commissioned Adelaide’s Holmes Dyer to create the plan.

Promoted as “a higher level plan” by elected members and staff, it was endorsed at the council’s June 8 strategic asset and planning (SAP) meeting following a report by director of planning, Paul McRostie.

Reliant on State and Federal Government funding, the plan suggests changes to be done in stages over 10 years, with costs in the first three years estimated between $5 million and $7 million.

The changes boast better linkages to the Naracoorte Caves with updated signage and art promoting the caves within the town.

A raft of other changes include street levelling and artistic upgrades to arcades, such as the Rivoli Arcade, creating a mall-style atmosphere within the town centre.

Such changes would help create a colourful environment for additional shopping opportunities and out of hours activities, attracting more people, cafes, festivals and events.

A key plank of the plan is slowing traffic in the town centre – including Smith and Ormerod Streets – to 40km/h to form “a pedestrian friendly environment”.

The plan does not include a bypass for heavy vehicles, or traffic lights.

At an estimated cost of $3 million to $5 million, Ormerod Street will be changed and narrowed for one-way traffic and angle parking.

Similarly, one-way traffic and angle parking would be introduced on DeGaris Pl for $200,000 to $500,000.

A previous idea of joining the two town squares has been dropped.

Instead, at an estimated cost of between $2.5 million to $3.5 million, the whole area is earmarked for more facilities, like an outdoor amphitheatre and big screen, artwork, shelter and shade as well as levelling Jones St between the two squares.

This would enable parking to remain, with bollards installed to block traffic for special occasions, events and festivals, similar to what happens now.

Creating a “brand” for Naracoorte’s town centre, lighting it up at night, updating signage for tourists and developing long vehicle access on Riverside Dve are a few of the other items included in the plan, which took Holmes Dyer almost five months to create.

The 71-page plan speckled with photos, artwork and inspiring graphics has five headings; setting the scene, stakeholder engagement, rejuvenation opportunities, delivery plan and spatial plans.

A basis for the plan sparked last year with site visits over seven days and seven nights which enabled consultants “to experience all aspects of the town centre at all possible times of activity”.

“A brief preliminary online survey” also asked people to answer four questions:

1. I think it is easy to get into and around the Naracoorte town centre; I can access the things I need when I need them?
2. The town centre is appealing, the streets are nice to walk along and the parks and open spaces are nice to visit?
3. The Town Centre provides all the services, products and businesses I need?
4. Naracoorte is a convenient and enjoyable town for visitors to spend time in?

From a population of around 8500 people, around 100 responded.

Additionally, senior consultant Ben Cunningham visited the Town Hall and several places around Naracoorte.

He also hosted a stall at the Historic Vehicle Club’s monthly community market.

But at the time he did not have permission to speak to The News.

Afterwards, he did not return numerous phone calls from The News.

Mr Cunningham’s first report, “an implementation plan” was presented to a “confidential” council workshop on March 16, with no agendas and no minutes publicly available.

A second “confidential” meeting with no agenda and no minutes publicly available, was held on April 28 where “adjustments” were made on behalf of elected members.

With the “adjustments” in place, the plan was approved this month at the council’s SAP meeting.

Also approved at the SAP meeting was a “communication plan” regarding how the council would present it to the public and “manage the media”.

“All media enquiries in the first instance will be directed to the manager engagement and community or the community engagement officer,” the council’s communication plan says.

“Council spokespersons are the mayor and the CEO. Elected members and/or staff should liaise with the CEO regarding any approach by the media.

“All media releases are to be approved by the CEO.”

On July 13, Holmes Dyer consultants have been invited by the council to explain the plan so the community knows “it is their plan, not the council’s,” CEO Trevor Smart told the SAP meeting.

By describing the 71-page document as “a high level plan” Mr Smart said that meant it provided the ideas and concepts, but not the detail.

“The context of the Naracoorte Town Centre Rejuvenation Plan, is that the plan is a high level concept plan – draws out the ideas and concepts suggested by the community – with the detailed planning on separate stages still to be undertaken,” he said.

“A good example of this would be Ormerod St concepts where we would need to undertake detailed engineering designs for road, footpaths levels and space, parking spaces, and traffic flows, and further engagement with the community and business sector – plus detailed costing before that high level concept could come to fruition.”

The plan was set to be rubber stamped at last night’s council meeting.

Council will inform the public about its plan at a public meeting on July 13 in the Town Hall.

Mr Cunningham has since changed jobs and since April has been working for the Victor Harbor City Council.

This article appeared in Naracoorte Community News, 23 June 2021.