A RIVERLAND town’s redesigned river-front space has received recognition for the environmental and economic benefits it has created for the surrounding community.
Renmark’s Taylor Riverfront Precinct was last week announced as a winner of the SA Regional Achievement in Landscape Architecture Award at the 2021 South Australia Landscape Architecture Awards.
Renmark Paringa Mayor Neil Martinson said the redesign – including a new town fountain and barbecue facilities – encouraged locals, and visitors, to interact with the river front.
“The Taylor Riverfront Precinct has transformed an underutilised space along our river front into a much-loved community asset,” Mr Martinson said.
“This project was successful in creating a hub for people to stay, play and relax in Renmark. It demonstrated how open space can foster public life, with the precinct delivering a valuable contribution to the Riverland community.
“The jury was impressed by how the revitalised precinct addressed and interacted with the river and provided the community and visitors the opportunity to walk out over the river, revealing views up and down stream.
“The revitalised precinct (is) delivering confidence in Renmark as a place to live, work and visit, which encourages civic pride and opportunities to engage with the mighty River Murray.”
Renmark Paringa Council unveiled the completed river-front redesign in February, with the project supported by $1.4 million coming from the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund and $550,000 from the State Government’s Places for People Program.
Mr Martinson said incorporating environmental sustainability at the area had been a priority for council.
“Council aims to ensure that crime prevention through environmental design principles are embedded in all new and renewed infrastructure,” he said.
“Features such as the new native planting beds containing a mix of species to assist with bank stabilisation was important to us, along with the paving design to reference the River Murray.
“This assists people in forming a relationship with the river who may not have access to boats.
“It’s also worthy to note that the river deck is 24 metres long and is made from 100 per cent recycled products. An equivalent of 65,530 milk bottles were recycled to create (it).”
Mr Martinson said council’s ongoing Urban Design Framework (UDF) project would draw new tourism and economic activity to Renmark.
“This will certainly boost Renmark’s reputation of being a beautiful regional town with… an award-winning community space in the heart of the town centre,” he said.
“This is great recognition of all the hard work put into this project by everyone involved.
“This is also the first step of delivering the transformational vision of council’s (UDF) for the Renmark township and we look forward to the next stages to commence.”