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By Chris Oldfield. THE Frances community will soon boast a BMX track for residents and visiting families to enjoy. The community also hopes to sell its Town Hall and pump the proceeds into upgrades at the Frances Recreation Reserve. It is home to various sporting groups including Border Districts footballers who train in the dark with no lights in one pocket of the oval. And, as the fire season looms, a “wick” full of native vegetation and weeds needs to be cleared along the disused railway line stretching about 5km between Little Desert National Park and Frances. Those were some of the items raised by Frances Progress Association chairman Danielle Moore during a visit to the township by Naracoorte Lucindale Council for its August meeting. Several councillors met in the Town Square before the August 22 council meeting to view the completed $212,000 nature-based project which opened in November 2021. […]

By Chris Oldfield. RUBBLE, weeds and rubbish stretching along the footpath area between Mitre 10 and Smith St might be cleaned up following a new Naracoorte Lucindale Council policy. But business owners and residential developers will need to apply to the council for any paving or infrastructure upgrades under the policy. The Business and Residential […]

By Nasik Swami. Member for MacKillop Nick McBride says he does not support the Australian Indigenous Voice referendum. Mr McBride said the referendum was bureaucratic and would fail to deliver tangible outcomes for the indigenous people. While he welcomed the intent of the Bill currently before the South Australian Parliament, which will create an Indigenous Voice, he expressed some reservations. “In itself, the First Nations Voice Bill creates its own layers of bureaucracy. It is difficult to see how this process will work with or complement the range of work and mandates of a range of existing First Nations bodies, which are preserved under clause 7 of the bill,” he said. “This model has been layered over the top of numerous existing advisory bodies, structures, and advocacy groups, which I am told number more than 190. “The bill itself establishes layers of local and state bodies and at least four […]

By Nasik Swami. A former Naracoorte mayor has called on the public to question the motives of anyone seeking division in the country. The call from Ken Grundy follows the Commonwealth Government’s referendum, which will create an Indigenous Voice through a change in the constitution. Mr Grundy said the public had every right to contact its elected members of parliament to voice their concerns about the proposed changes. “Therefore, we are all recognised, and to grant an extra avenue for any group to influence the representatives will cause division. “It will set a precedent for other groups to also have a Voice. Where would it stop? We should question the motives of anyone seeking such division.” Mr Grundy said the Australian Prime Minister was determined to have the Voice included in the Constitution. “Indigenous support gained through several hundred committees stands at around $38billion per year. One committee, the NIAA, […]

By Nasik Swami. Vandals have wreaked havoc on a newly renovated $250,000 Market Square Playground, which was scheduled to open to the public this week. Naracoorte-Lucindale Council confirmed damage to the newly fitted equipment, including the soft flooring. Council CEO Trevor Smart told this newspaper that the repair works would come at a cost to the ratepayers and the community, and the opening of the recreational facility will be delayed while the soft-fall areas are replaced. Mr Smart said the council was looking at expanding CCTV coverage at specific sites in the area to curb the issue of vandalism and apprehend vandals. “We already have some CCTV coverage and will be looking to expand our coverage at specific sites. This had bought us some success in apprehending vandals (through SAPOL),” Mr Smart said. “If vandals are identifiable, they will be referred to SAPOL. We also rely on our community to […]

By Nasik Swami. Plans have been tabled for the installation of multiple electronic noticeboard signs in the township of Naracoorte. The council agreed in its July meeting for the administration to investigate potential options and locations for the installation of multiple electronic noticeboard signs in the township. Looking at costs, one double-sided electronic noticeboard could cost ratepayers between $21,000 and $23,000. At the June 2023 ordinary meeting of council, Cr Craig McGuire provided some preliminary information on the use of electronic information signs from the Rural City of Murray Bridge (RCMB). In the meeting, it was resolved that council administration provide a report for the July 2023 council meeting on the possible use of an electronic information sign to be used as a communication tool within the township of Naracoorte. RCMB has a newly installed electronic information sign on Adelaide Road, which is used to promote council-only events. Cr McGuire […]

By Chris Oldfield. THE region’s mayors and CEOs will work together to access investment for improved roads, housing, health and education. That was one of the key messages from Naracoorte Lucindale mayor Patrick Ross who recently welcomed the various civic leaders to Naracoorte. Mr Ross reminded his visitors that Naracoorte Lucindale was “the natural centre […]

By Nasik Swami 

A federal member of parliament says the Australian Indigenous Voice referendum will create two classes of Australian citizens – those who can trace their heritage to Australia’s First Peoples and those who can’t. Opposing the referendum in its entirety, Tony Pasin said the proposed Voice will enshrine division in the constitution. “Instead […]

By Nasik Swami

The Naracoorte-Lucindale Council is under no financial stress. That’s the assurance from mayor Patrick Ross, who says the unfinished capital works in the 2022-2023 financial year did not mean council had run out of money. In its July meeting, the council endorsed carry-forward of the capital expenditure from its 2022–2023 budget to […]