Coorong council plans main street upgrades, housing at Tailem Bend
Streetscapes, a park and a housing project at Tailem Bend will come to life thanks to a federal government grant.
Four Tailem Bend development projects will share $508,000 in federal funding announced recently.
The Tailem Bend precinct plan includes progress on four different projects:
- Tailem Bend's main street will receive $200,000 for design and costings, taking previous concepts for an upgrade and doing a deeper detailed design to position Council for construction funding opportunities
- Dickson Reserve's old ferry landing will receive $108,000 for a conservation plan for the heritage-listed structure, which is a key feature of Tailem Bend’s river and transport history; additional designs for Dickson Reserve will be created to ensure the area continues to provide pleasant amenities for locals and visitors
- The Tenth Street Precinct affordable housing proposal will get $105,000 to create division, infrastructure and landscaping plans and legal templates; this will assist council as it plans to use the surplus land for housing development
- The highway corridor through Tailem Bend will get $95,000 worth of further design work to prepare engineering drawings and costings for improvements to the median strip and verges of the corridor; the council will collaborate with the Department of Infrastructure and Transport on the beautification of this area
The council will seek more funding when it is ready to start construction work.
Myles Somers, the council's director of community and corporate services, said the funding was an opportunity to bring projects in Tailem Bend to a shovel-ready status, ready to be built.
In particular, it was an opportunity to prepare a more detailed proposal for the surplus land on Tenth Street and to undertake a deeper design process for sections of the Railway Terrace streetscape.
"It might not be that we'll be able to do the entire main street, but we'll concentrate on the areas that need most attention," he said.
"The feedback we had was that many people love the structure of the street, with the shops on one side and parking on the other."
The Tailem Bend Main Street, Tenth Street housing precinct and Dickson Reserve are part of the projects benefiting from the Government grant. Photos: Peri Strathearn, Liana Webster and Coorong District Council
Something the council hoped to add was more safety measures for crossing such a wide street and renewing uneven footpaths, he said.
"This project is as much for local people as it is for visitors, so everyone can get the best out of the public space," Mr Somers said.
Further project information will become available and the community will be consulted as more details are confirmed.
Coorong Councillor Brenton Qualmann hoped any development of the main street would encourage tenants to move into more of its shops.
"The growth in Murray Bridge will need more services, so it's all to do with growth of the town and region," he said.
Funding will support communities across country SA
The Coorong council is one of only two in the state which received a grant from the federal Regional Precinct Partnership Program.
Senator Don Farrell said he was proud to be part of the government's commitment to supporting regional communities.
“From families in Kingston and budding athletes in Penola, to residents in Tailem Bend and small businesses across the Mid Murray, we are investing in local communities," he said.
“Developing the infrastructure locals need will support our regions to prosper, delivering for families and small businesses and creating new opportunities for tourism in our state’s spectacular southeast."
The government will invest nearly $7 million improving housing, childcare, economic, tourism and sports facilities across SA's South East and Murraylands.
The Mid Murray region’s plans to build a vibrant tourism hub across its townships was also funded with an investment of $1.5 million.
