Council’s master plan a ‘game changer’ for Port Wakefield

A riverfront playground, town plaza and tree planting throughout local streets are priority projects being touted for Port Wakefield as part of a draft Master Plan for the town.

Released for a final round of consultation, the draft plan has been shaped by feedback from the community which wanted to see more focus on tourism, waterfront recreation and engaging activities for local residents and children.

Mayor Rodney Reid said Port Wakefield’s rejuvenation was a priority for Council and a key action in the Wakefield 2030 Community Plan.

“This is a game changer for Port Wakefield – a town we see as an unpolished gem and a potential quality lifestyle and tourism destination,” he said.
“The master plan focuses on opening up the town to visitors, improving streetscapes, making the most of Port Wakefield’s rich heritage and providing a strong sense of the town as a gateway to adventure.

“Once the final plan is adopted – hopefully in August – we will be able to undertake detailed design on the priority projects and work hard on grant funding bids to support delivery of this exciting portfolio of works.

“We’re looking at millions of dollars’ worth of investment in Port Wakefield and we know Council cannot deliver these projects alone. The idea is to implement the plan in stages over the coming years, seeking grant funding to support project delivery along the way.”

Sixteen separate projects have been proposed in the draft plan, with five stages of implementation:

Project stages overview:

Subject to final adoption of the master plan, detailed designs of the stage 1 projects will be developed to ensure they are ‘spade ready’ for funding. In a nutshell:

• The Tree Planting Strategy focuses on greening and cooling the key pedestrian areas to create shade and visual impact for both visitors and locals.
• The Riverfront Playground will reimagine the current play area as an open and immersive play experience within the coastal landscape and, inspired by community feedback, will incorporate a youth activity zone and meeting space.
• An active cultural hub is proposed with the repurposed RSL building as the centre of the new Town Plaza. This project holds exciting potential to host regional events, local markets as well as a new food and beverage destination housed in the heritage limestone building.

See the draft master plans – including more details of the Stage 1 proposed priority projects.

The final consultation period concludes at 5pm Tuesday 24 August and written feedback can be forwarded:

• By email – admin@wrc.sa.gov.au with the subject ‘Port Wakefield Master Plan Feedback’
• By using the online Community Consultation Feedback Form
• By post to the CEO, PO Box 167 Balaklava SA 5461