echo 3
Clean up for Port Gawler Bec O’Brien reports: There has been somewhat of a reawakening at Port Gawler over the past 12 months, with community input, interest and care for the area on the increase, and in coming weeks a new floating pontoon will be installed. Long-time Two Wells resident, Malcolm Frost, has been a strong supporter of improving the estuary site for many years, saying the isolated spot has become a mecca for burnt out cars, graffiti and vandalism. Malcolm has led the Two Wells Regional Action Team’s (TWRAT) initiative to bring people back to the river with the installation of a new floating pontoon, and is regularly on the ground help to clean up rubbish, install signage and repair damage. The area holds a special place in Malcolms’ heart, with many fond memories for him of fishing and playing on the beach. “We used to ride our bikes down there and play cricket on the beach when I
was a kid,” he recalled. “It is a special place for me (and) now it’s becoming a destination for people for their enjoyment of the beautiful spot that it is.” But the road travelled to get to this point for Pt Gawler has been long, lonely and at times dark, with numerous community groups and government departments trying their best over the years to improve and revitalise the area. In 2016 TWRAT proposed installing a floating pontoon at the old wharf site and promptly lodged a development application with the the Adelaide Plains Council (APC) in March that same year. At present the site preparation has been completed with three piles and the entrance block to the static gangway installed. The off-site construction of a static gangway, dynamic gangway, two struts and the pontoon has also long been completed and ready to install. A Licence to Construct on Crown Land has been obtained for the pontoon installation. But the pontoon de-
velopment application by TWRAT (at time of print) has still not been approved by APC. “This council has insisted on having an independently assessed engineering justification for the structural integrity; based on the fact that it connects to the land and therefore must confirm to the “building code”,” Malcolm explained of the delay. Frustratingly, however, this process has taken around two years and Malcolm says it was only with the assistance of the Department for Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) that progress was made. “TWRAT was prepared to be the guarantor of the structural integrity and arrange for insurance to cover it,” he said. “DEWNR advised that TWRAT should not be required to do that and is following the APC demands. “DEWNR has undertaken to arrange for this process to be completed and is bearing the substantial extra costs so far. “I think that’s a positive step to have the extra resources available to do good
Two Wells Regional Action Team member and project leader, Malcolm Frost, is keen to bring people back to the Port Gawler area. things there.” APC development and community manager, Robert Veitch, says council is waiting for information from DEWNR before final approval can be given. “Council is awaiting final details from an independent engineer, which Ian Falkenberg (Department of Environment & Water) has organised, to enable the as-
sessment to be completed,” Mr Veitch said. After July 2018 the new pontoon will become an asset of DEWNR, something Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary (AIBS) operations manager, Ian Falkenberg, said is a positive for the area. “The community initiatives being undertaken in the Port Gawler area are fan-
ABOVE: Viv Wilson, Emmalyse Booms, Blake Reynolds-Rowe, Sascha Reynolds-Rowe and DEWNR’s Ian Falkenberg with a trailer load of rubbish cleared from the Pt Gawler area.
SUPPORTING LOCAL GROWERS & PRODUCERS
Gawler in the future would hopefully change. Mr Falkenberg said this was an impressive community activity. “Community stewardship is well and truly alive in this small community with members from the Two Wells Lions Club, Two Wells Regional Action Group and South Oz Rods joining forces to make a real difference to this important environment and habitat for shorebirds,” he said. TWLC secretary, Caroline Scutcheon, says the Port Gawler area is a beautiful and natural place and despite some people treating it with disrespect, many others were taking a positive interest in the place. “Every little bit that we do helps our community in some small way, and that’s what Lions is all about,” Caroline said. At least four trailer loads of rubbish was collected as part of the clean up with Caroline saying APC also gave support through disposal of all of the rubbish free of charge at the Two Wells waste transfer station. She is hopeful the site will continue to improve. And with the area recently included in the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary, the future looks much brighter for Port Gawler.
No need to travel for top quality meat... It’s right here in Angle Vale Presenting the finest quality meat Australia has to offer
ANGLE VALE WHOLESALE MEATS 154 ANGLE VALE RD, ANGLE VALE Two Wells Echo, May, 2018
tastic,” Mr Falkenberg said. “Although they get some criticism from time to time, you can see their (community) work is very important for the long term protection of this area.” Mr Falkenberg said there appears to be little respect for the natural values of the Pt Gawler region, saying the area is a popular motor bike riding site with an extensive network of motorcycle and four-wheel drive tracks established over a wide area with extensive and severe degradation of coastal vegetation and shorebird habitat. “It is well established that disturbance from Off Road Vehicles including motorbikes are one of the most significant threats to migratory and resident shorebirds within the AIBS,” he said. Mr Falkenberg said the majority of motor bikes used in these areas are unregistered and uninsured and it is illegal to ride them on public roads and public land, including the beach. TWRAT’s floating pontoon initiative at the estuary, Mr Falkenberg said, was a positive step for the region. Coupled with new interpretive signage ,which outlines the history of the site and highlights local birdlife, he said the use of Pt
TRADING HOURS
Mon-Sat 7am-5pm Sunday 10am-4pm www.twowellsecho.com.au
3