Michelle Daw, Yorke Peninsula Country Times

Moonta Mines heritage volunteers say about $100,000 has been lost since National Trust of South Australia shut local sites in February, as they continue to fight the closure on multiple fronts.

Volunteers estimate the figure represents lost revenue since the Moonta Mines railway, museum, Sweet Shop, Miner’s Cottage and Moonta Family History and Resource Centre were closed on February 23.

Suspended committee chair Sharron Ward said the estimate was conservative and based on the sites’ annual revenue of about $600,000.

“We have missed out on some of our peak trading times of the year — Easter, a long weekend and the autumn school holidays,” Mrs Ward said.

“Now we are going into our slower revenue time of the year during the colder months, when people don’t tend to travel to beachside locations.”

This Friday, May 29, the committee’s legal bid to be reinstated and regain access to bank accounts holding almost $335,000 will be heard in the Supreme Court at an initial directions hearing.

Volunteer representatives met yesterday with Member for Narungga Chantelle Thomas and fellow One Nation state parliamentarian Carlos Quaremba MLC to discuss the impacts of the closures and suspension of the National Trust Moonta branch committee.

Mr Quaremba is also president of One Nation SA.

Mrs Thomas said her focus would be on ensuring procedural fairness, transparency and accountability while encouraging mediation for a constructive resolution.

“I strongly advocate for the committee’s desire that all parties do their utmost to pursue constructive communication and mediation, with the immediate goal of reopening the precinct and restoring stability for our community,” Mrs Thomas said.

“I will continue engaging with community members, volunteers and relevant stakeholders to ensure local concerns are being properly represented and heard.”

Parliamentary inquiry

Mrs Thomas said her party would support a move by Liberal MLC Nicola Centofanti for a parliamentary inquiry into NTSA governance if further independent scrutiny was needed.

Dr Centofanti put forward the motion on Wednesday, May 20, after being contacted by concerned NTSA volunteers from around the state.

She said she hoped the motion would be voted on during the next sitting week, beginning June 2.

The proposed inquiry would also examine the contemporary relevance of the NTSA Act 1955 and was not intended to prejudge any individual matter or undermine the trust’s work.

“The passion and commitment of the volunteers who have contacted me over the past several weeks have been monumental and I thank them all for reaching out,” Dr Centofanti said.

“These volunteers and their generous contribution to local heritage preservation are what keeps community spirit strong in our towns and districts.

Stop using World Heritage excuse – Venning

Federal Member for Grey Tom Venning has called on National Trust of South Australia to stop using the potential World Heritage listing of Moonta Mines to justify shutting down the
Moonta National Trust branch.

After suspending the branch committee on February 23 and locking volunteers out of heritage sites, NTSA chief executive Nicolette di Lernia said the decision was necessary to help ensure the success of the World Heritage bid.

Ms Di Lernia said the scale of the Moonta Mines site and challenges linked to the bid meant it was “just not realistic” for the branch committee to continue managing the site.

Mr Venning wrote to Ms Di Lernia on April 24 seeking a meeting and a briefing on NTSA’s strategy for Moonta. He has also written to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission supporting a review of NTSA.

Mr Venning also backed Liberal MLC Nicola Centofanti, who moved a motion seeking a parliamentary inquiry into NTSA governance after concerns were raised by volunteers across regional South Australia.

However, Mr Venning stressed his advocacy was “not an attack” on NTSA or its chief executive.

“Pushing for a parliamentary inquiry is a positive step, but I am hopeful that sooner rather than later the NTSA can make the first move and come back to the table,” he said.

Related stories: Moonta Mines heritage site.
This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 26 May 2026.