ERIN WILLIAMS and HUGH SCHUITEMAKER
A WALKING trail that will connect two Riverland towns has raised concerns within the community in regards to lack of public consultation, landowners’ privacy, and disability access – yet the project has been given the green light.
In 2018, the Moorook Kingston-On-Murray Community Association (MKOMCA) received $235,880 for the Moorook Ecotourism Project through the Murray-Darling Basin Economic Development Program to create a 20km walking trail, connecting Moorook with Kingston-On-Murray.
Despite Moorook falling in the Cobdogla-Barmera funding area, the group received support from the District Council of Loxton Waikerie (DCLW) to complete the application process.
However, residents across the area expressed concern during the planning process and public consultation, yet a group spokesperson said no concerns have been addressed.
Spokesperson for a group of concerned Kingston-On-Murray residents Gary Fitzpatrick said while “no one is against the idea of a walking trail”, the residents are “very” concerned that the trail will pass along private property.
“At first, we were all for the walking trail – Moorook and Kingston-On-Murray are beautiful areas,” he said.
“But when the plans for the proposed walking trail location were released – and those plans have now been accepted by the (Loxton Waikerie) council and the MKOMCA – it shows that the trail will pass right by residences, which has the owners concerned for their privacy.
“I don’t believe the council or MKOMCA members have done a full walkthrough, as some parts of the trail do cross private land and the proposed crossing point on the Sturt Highway is a dangerous point.
“Another thing that I really don’t think has been taken into consideration is the fact that this is not a looping trail. Are walkers expected to walk 20km, then turn around and walk the same 20km back to their cars?
“(Residents) do not oppose this trail in general terms, but we would like council and the MKOMCA to reconsider the route.”
MKOMCA chair Rob Cordy said the trail will have areas where individuals will have to make decisions as to whether they can traverse or not.
“We’re not talking about hills here, we’re talking about fairly flat ground. We’re not doing any excavations, we’re just preparing an area so we can put some crushed rock down and some marker posts,” he said.
“I’ve been talking to a few local residents here and currently they walk on Kingston Road… and take the risk of being run over.
“We’re removing safety hazards for people who want to have passive recreation, and we’re creating something that will be a lasting asset to the community.
“It’s crown land. It’s public land (and) we’re building a walking trail, not a road.”
The trail will be two metres wide to allow for disabled access, but Mr Fitzpatrick said many areas will require levelling and landscaping to allow for wheelchairs, gophers and prams to easily traverse the trail.
“The trail is set to be 20km long – that is a lot of land to level out to make the trail properly disabled access friendly,” he said.
“Are the funds the MKOMCA received sufficient to cover all the landscaping, plus construction, signage and markers, rest points and bollards, all of which are listed in the trail design?
“If costs exceed funding, are we going to be left with a half-finished trail?”
Mr Cordy said the Department of Environment and Water will be the judge of whether issues raised are valid.
“The same licence conditions that apply to people who have pipes or other infrastructure on that crown land will apply to the walking trail; it’s not open slather,” he said.
“There are a number of people who have had a privilege in terms of unfettered access to that crown land… and now they’re being asked to share that with another activity.
“It’s taken some time to get here, but now we have the facts in front of us we’ll let the adjoining land owners and the rest of the community know what’s going on.
“There will always be some people who don’t agree with it, but at the end of the day DEW will be the final judge of whether issues that have been raised are valid or not.”
Stage one of the proposed trail will begin soon, covering a section of the Moorook Recreation Grounds and nearby DCLW road reserve.
The trail design and map – along with community submissions and the full petition – can be seen on the DCLW website (www.loxto