Chris Oldfield, Naracoorte Community News
Developer Robert Moore has adapted his “high level plan” as a result of feedback regarding native vegetation and walking trails in the North Parklands.
The adapted plans will be unveiled on September 21, in the Naracoorte Town Hall.
As a June 22, forum featuring his proposal drew to a close, Mr Moore had called for feedback – and one person said people were wary of developments because they were burned by what happened with the former TAFE site.
Winding up the June 22 meeting, Mr Moore explained how times had changed for Naracoorte, which had not seen a population increase since the 1970s.
He urged people to fill in their names, addresses and phone numbers on feedback forms.
Additionally, Mr Moore encouraged people who had children and grandchildren who wanted to grow up and stay at Naracoorte, to support the proposal and register their interest.
“You know, I was fortunate when I left school, to get a job (in Naracoorte) with the Highways Department as a draftsman,” Mr Moore said.
“But the Highways are no longer here. My brother worked in a bank. That bank is no longer here.
“One of my sisters worked for the PMG department. It’s no longer here.
“The world has changed and so, new jobs, new facilities, new technology, et cetera has to come here.”
But the town needed to grow for that to happen.
Mr Moore said if Naracoorte could double in size, that would bring a focus to it.
He praised the Tatiara District Council mayor and CEO and said everything seemed to be “bustling along” in that district.
Meanwhile, Mount Gambier also seemed to be doing well and Mr Moore queried why that city had all the growth and focus.
“So, your opinion counts a hell of a lot, whether it’s positive or negative. Hopefully it’s in the positive,” he said.
Robyn Talbot said: “Yes, well, a lot of us got burned with the TAFE development. So that is where some of this (hesitancy) is coming from.”
Mr Moore: “I know what I would have put on the TAFE site.”
“So do I,” mumbled others in the crowd.
Mr Moore then thanked people for their attendance and closed the meeting, which was followed by a loud round of applause.
[Regarding the former TAFE site, the council disregarded views of 247 people – who all gave their names, phone numbers and addresses – and were opposed to the site being turned into high density accommodation. As previously reported by The News, it resulted in expensive legal action, with the community raising more than $40,000 to challenge the council and developers. A change of laws enabled part of the development to proceed with a series of conditions placed on developers.]
Since the June 22 forum Mr Moore said he had feedback from more than 100 respondents “demonstrating broad support for the concept of a mixed use development of the Northern Parklands site and suggesting that a second forum be held”.
“From the previous forum many of the questionnaires distributed have been returned with an 85 percent proportion supportive of the concept,” Mr Moore said.
“Some of the correspondents have expressed a desire to maintain as much as possible the native vegetation and walking trails.
“These concerns have been addressed in a modified concept which will be presented at a second forum in the Town Hall on Wednesday 21st September from 5.00pm.”
This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.
