Chris Oldfield, Naracoorte Community News

A proposed $250 million development over 25 years at Naracoorte’s North Parklands was unveiled last week to a large crowd thirsty for information.

Putting a spotlight on Naracoorte, the proposal is hailed as the biggest development plan for regional SA.

It includes 500 residential allotments grouped around the Naracoorte Golf Course.

It also involves a convention centre to attract major conferences, motel style serviced suites, a new aged care home, retirement village and a wetland.

Some light industrial services and a commercial area are also earmarked for the north west corner of the parklands, tucked behind native vegetation.

Developer Mr Robert Moore said all current pathways, tracks and roads would remain, including the cross country running course for the area’s primary school students.

Attendees also heard that the golf course, cemetery and swimming lake were to be left untouched.

Most of the development would be in areas where a pine plantation would be harvested.

The June 22 meeting attracted a large crowd with 120 chairs put out, more chairs sought and 20 people standing around the side and at the back of the room.

The crowd included some of Naracoorte’s leading professionals, business owners, primary producers, councillors past and present, as well as sporting club representatives and concerned horse owners.

Council CEO Trevor Smart attended, but not civic leaders – Mayor Erika Vickery or her deputy, Cr Craig McGuire.

Naracoorte lawyer James Norcock welcomed everyone to the meeting.

“Thank you all for attending this forum for the potential future development of the Northern Parklands of Naracoorte,” he said.

“What a great representation of our community we have here tonight.”

As MC, Mr Norcock explained the order of proceedings and introduced Limestone Coast Regional Development Board member and Mini Jumbuk managing director Darren Turner.

Mr Turner was pleased to see “such a good crowd turn up”.

He praised Naracoorte as a “beautiful town” to live, work, buy a block of land, build a house and raise a family.

“But like most regional towns – this one included – there is a shortage of desirable property,” Mr Turner said.

He explained the process of someone wanting to come to Naracoorte to invest and perhaps start a business requiring 30-40 people.

“We’d need to see housing for those 30 or 40 families and we need to have services that will attract the people.”

Mr Turner explained a “growing town is a vibrant town”, attracting outsiders, and a lot of attention from government.

He said Mount Gambier was fortunate to get $100 million from the newly elected Malinauskas government.

“It would have been nice to have had something shovel ready at Naracoorte that could have been on that radar to attract a larger hospital, or a larger school or a TAFE facility for training tradespeople,” Mr Turner said.

Inviting Mr Moore to present his proposal, Mr Turner urged people to listen with an open mind.

“This opportunity is something that comes along only once in a lifetime,” Mr Turner said.

Growing up, leaving school and working in Naracoorte, Mr Moore explained his connection to the town and his regular visits until his mother Denny Moore died four years ago.

It was the needs of his aging mother, coupled with the idea of his friend Don Wishart, which first sparked his development proposal.

Mr Moore said he had been building development projects for the past 40 years.

He discussed various meetings regarding his proposal with some of Naracoorte’s business leaders and the council as well as with the SA Department for Environment and Water.

However, he said there were three hurdles to get over before his proposal could ever go ahead.

“One of them is the majority of the land our project could be found on is under the care and control of the council,” Mr Moore said.

“Without the council conceding control of that, nothing will happen.

“Secondly, the (State) Government has to have a reason to sell it and have to have an agreed price from a buyer.

“And thirdly, we have the issue of native title over all of the land.

“All of the land where you are sitting tonight (at the football clubrooms) is under native title. The cemetery is under native title too.”

Mr Moore believed if the people of Naracoorte and the council agreed that something could happen with his proposal, “the other two hurdles can be overcome”.

He briefly reflected on the development of Block 26 – the industrial estate on Moyhall Rd.

In that instance, the council at the time had approached Mr Moore.

“In looking at this (project) – and I will have some detractors in the room – we think Naracoorte misses on being the rightful centre of the Limestone Coast,” he said.

Mr Moore referred to the “strong move” of people from the big cities back into the regions. He talked about developments he was currently involved with so people could move out.

While showing photos on a screen, Mr Moore explained some of his major projects. They reflected the resources, experience, ability and skill required to create and build big developments.

Mr Moore then explained his proposal, estimating it would increase the council’s rate revenue by around 30 per cent.

But he also urged people to remember it was a “high level plan” and therefore open for changes.

A thought provoking questions and answer session followed which The News will report on next week.

This article appeared in Naracoorte Community News.