Media Release

1 June 2022

Naracoorte's Pioneer Park - home of the town's iconic steam locomotive - is getting a facelift to enhance its significance as an important open space asset for locals and visitors alike.

A Draft Masterplan has been prepared for the Park, complete with an overall concept design, and Council and Naracoorte Lions would love your feedback.

Implementation of the Plan would see:

• The 1877 V9 class steam locomotive restored (subject to successful grant funding)
• The existing amenities facility demolished and rebuilt in a new location
• The Naracoorte Lions Club to undertake work on the Park’s historical wall
• A gazebo and new BBQ facilities
• Upgrades to the top carpark
• Additional off-street angled parking on Moore Street
• Access and inclusion car parking on Moore Street
• New street furniture, pathways, tree planting, signage and garden upgrades
• Long vehicle linemarking on MacDonnell Street
• Irrigation upgrades

Improvements to the Park will take place over the next decade, with the majority of works taking place over the next 5 years at a cost of over $600,000.

Discussions on future improvements for the Park began in earnest early last year when the Council's Botanical Working Group recommended that Council staff engage with Naracoorte Lions Club representatives to develop a Masterplan for the Park.

Since then, the Lions Club - which has had a long association with the Park - and the Botanical Working Group have teamed up to progress the development of the Masterplan.

Pioneer Park, located near the town centre on MacDonnell Street, offers a quiet, open space for community members and tourists to have a picnic or BBQ.

For train enthusiasts, there is the steam locomotive, and there is also historical information about the 50th anniversary memorial of the municipality of Naracoorte and a commemoration of pioneering families of Naracoorte. The Park was once the former Naracoorte-Kincraig Cemetery.

The development of the Draft Masterplan highlighted that the Park is not widely used and has few visitors, infrastructure is old, garden beds need upgrading, many of the trees are in serious decline and the park is fragmented.

It was also observed that Pioneer Park can play an important role in appealing to a different demographic to Market Square, especially 'Grey Nomads' and older residents. Caravan and RV parking is also difficult in the area at the moment due to the parking needs of surrounding businesses.

Work to date on the Draft Masterplan has highlighted the following key development themes:

History

• Enhance the story of the locomotive and history of rail in the region.
• Celebrate pioneers of the district and the story of the cemetery.
• Collaborate with the Sheep’s Back Museum.

Tourism

• Clean, modern facilities will encourage visitors and locals to the Park.
• Promote the Naracoorte Caves and other tourist attractions in the region.
• A place to relax and enjoy for visitors.

Gardens

• Create a botanical parkland in a sustainable way, planting significant trees which will be part of the landscape for generations to come.
• Trees will thrive with minimal maintenance and the lawned area easily maintained by Council.

Community

• Work with Lions, the Men’s Shed and Schools to have a whole of community approach to the Park’s development.
• Ensure any upgrades are sustainable from a maintenance point of view.
• Enhance an existing green space in the town for community benefit.

The concept design for the Park has been prepared by Andrew Hutchison Garden Solutions, of Naracoorte.

Now we want to know what you think of the plans for Pioneer Park! You can provide feedback in the online forum at www.yoursay.naracoortelucindale.sa.gov.au, email Council at council@nlc.sa.gov.au or write to Box 555, Naracoorte, SA, 5271.

You can view the Draft Masterplan for the Park - including the concept design - in the documents library on the online forum page.

Hard copy feedback forms will also be available from the Naracoorte Council offices, Naracoorte Library and Naracoorte Visitor Information Centre.

Feedback will close on Wednesday 22 June 2022.

Council and the Naracoorte Lions Club will then consider feedback on the Draft Masterplan.