Residents push to restore Riverglades trail after three-year closure
Community members have urged the Murray Bridge council to begin repairs of a flood-damaged walking trail.
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Two Murray Bridge residents have urged the local council to start long-awaited repairs of the Riverglades Wetlands walking trail.
Community member Jerry Wilson spearheaded the mission, presenting a deputation at a Murray Bridge council meeting on Monday.
Mr Wilson advocated for the council to invest in restoring and eventually reopening the north entrance to the wetlands.
The entrance was initially closed for repairs in 2022 after devastating floods caused widespread damage to the area.
Three years down the track, and locals are still waiting for repairs to begin.
"We just want it fixed again – the longer they wait, the more erosion is going to happen, and the more weeds will come in," Mr Wilson said.
"That’s why we’re pushing for them to do it."
Mr Wilson was one of 100 residents who previously owned and oversaw the wetlands for more than 30 years, converting a strip of land along the riverfront into a public walking trail and opening it up to the public.
Before the title of the land was given to the council in 2024, the association had received approvals to repair the damaged path, but no work went ahead.
"We’re just trying to nudge them to do some work," Mr Wilson said.
Russell Annear, owner of Avoca Dell Caravan Park, also urged the council to put the issue back on their agenda.
"Why buy it if you don’t want to do anything with it?" he said.
For the tourism sector, the wetlands were a huge part of what attracted visitors to the area, particularly for walking trails and bird watching.
"For it to be closed down was a real kick in the guts," Mr Annear said.
"You can see people are quite deflated because of it."
The Murray Bridge council has yet to respond to the suggestion.
