Upgraded Wellington East Reserve officially opens

The reserve's new features include a floating pontoon, barbecue facilities and shelters, public toilets and an improved landscape.

Upgraded Wellington East Reserve officially opens
Tony Pasin joins Paul Simmons for the opening of Wellington East Reserve. Photo: Coorong District Council/Facebook.

A newly upgraded Wellington East Reserve has been officially opened.

Improvements revealed on Friday included the installation of a floating pontoon next to the boat ramp, barbecue facilities and shelters and public toilets.

Upgrades to the landscape include an asphalt pathway, bench seating, plantings and irrigated lawn areas, and a clean-up of the beach area next to the boat ramp.

Vicki Hartman gave a welcome to country, after which federal MP Tony Pasin joined Coorong District Council Mayor Paul Simmons for the opening.

Tony Pasin joins Paul Simmons for the opening of Wellington East Reserve. Photo: Office of Tony Pasin MP.

“The popular area has been given a new lease of life and will now offer a new attractive central hub to draw visitors to discover more and stay a little longer in the region,” Mr Pasin said.

“I’m so pleased to be able to deliver funding that is seeing projects like this reinvigorate public spaces along the river to encourage tourism and ensure our river communities are even better places to live, work and raise a family.”

The federal government provided $450,000 funding for the reserve’s upgrade through the Murray-Darling Basin Economic Development Program in 2020.

Manno the marine safety boat proves a great help during the water safety talk. Photo: Coorong District Council/Facebook.

The ceremony was followed by talks on marine safety, canoeing skills and the conservation of Murray River turtles.

Guests were treated to a free sausage sizzle from the Lions Club of Tailem Bend.

Since its inception in 2019, the Murray-Darling Basin Economic Development Program has provided $72.7 million in funding for 132 projects within the Basin.

The program assists communities in undertaking economic development activities to offset the negative impacts of past water recovery under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

The reserve project had been ongoing since April.


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