Chris Oldfield, Naracoorte Community News
The North Parklands were earmarked 65 years ago for homes as the town expanded, according to the former Naracoorte Corporation’s official development plans.
The plans were revealed by former mayor, regional president and once vice president of the SA Local Government Association, David Hood during a North Parklands meeting held on June 22.
“This plan is not in variance with the town’s plans from 65 years ago,” Mr Hood told the crowd, following a presentation from developer Robert Moore.
“The (former) Corporation of Naracoorte was very observant and thought about expanding.
“So they extended the town to take in that (North Parkland) area for the purpose of building.
“That is shown in many of the development plans – that building was to occur in this area.
“The town was to be extended at both ends, and it was called the Greater Naracoorte Plan.
“If you look at the 1950s and 60s, there were 600 houses built by the SA Housing Trust to accommodate the people and the expansion of the town in those days.
“That went from First Ave to Longridge and all around there, as you know.
“That (expansion) only lasted until the end of the 1960s and then the meatworks started (in 1973).”
Once again there was a severe shortage of accommodation and not enough houses.
“In 1978 another development at Narkindie Park (60 transportable homes) was taken up, but that was still not enough (housing) development for the town,” Mr Hood said.
“Then when the development of the vineyard area came, there were still not enough houses in the town.
“The council was asked to build a worker’s camp in Naracoorte while people were being (brought in by buses) from Adelaide.
“So, this plan has been in the hatching for 70 years. It is not something that has just bounced out of the books.”
Mr Hood said the North Parklands was identified by a town councillor Bram Brown.
He said Mr Brown was the person responsible for the planting of the pine trees, while waiting for the town to expand.
“He was a beekeeper and had a very keen interest in all trees including pine trees, and he was a member of the corporation at the time,” Mr Hood said.
“It was his aim to plant those trees and to make a bit of money for the town.
“In some cases, the pine trees haven’t been maintained to a forestry standard.
“So, it (Mr Moore’s plan) is nothing new. It was planned 65 years ago.
“Maybe it is time to develop, I don’t know. But it has a lot of merit.”
Businessman and former local Robert Moore thanked Mr Hood “for the history lesson”.
“As I understand it, Reg Noblet looked at doing something here 40 years ago as well,” Mr Moore said.
“So, I’m not pioneering at all. Don Wishart sewed a seed in my head and the longer I’ve been involved, the more I believe in it … and more intensely during the past 18 months or so.
“I’m not looking for another job. I’m extremely busy – we are doing things in other areas.”
However, Mr Moore also liked a challenge and said he enjoyed working with people and considered himself to be “a Naracoortian”.
Mr Moore’s $250m plan is spread in stages over a 25-year time frame.
Focused mainly on areas where pines are to be harvested, it includes 500 houses in clusters around the golf course, a retirement village and new aged care facility, a convention centre to attract large conferences to Naracoorte and some commercial and industrial areas tucked behind native vegetation as well as a wetland.
But he said it was a “high level plan” and open to change, depending on what people wanted.
This article appeared in Naracoorte Community News.
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