GREATER safety for local children playing at a town fountain is a highlight of a Riverland council’s recently completed river-front redesign.
Renmark Paringa Council is today set to unveil the completed stage 1A of its Urban Design Framework initiative – known as the Taylor Riverfront Precinct – marked by the turning-on of the reinstated Renmark town fountain.
Renmark Paringa Council Mayor Neil Martinson (pictured) said the remodelled river front included improved amenities for locals and visitors to the town.
“It’s probably just a couple weeks behind schedule,” Mr Martinson said.
“We’re hoping the fountain will be turned on (today) and after a few tidy-ups we’ll be in full operation. It’s a great expanse with the barbecues, the seating, the shaded areas and all the additional trees and plantings.”
Plans for the UDF were initially released by council in May 2017, 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 the re-designed area had higher levels of safety for local children seeking to play in the town fountain.
“The fountain will be available for the public and there’s going to be water jets through the concrete area surrounding it,” he said.
“So if the kids want to get in there and have a play that’s fine, whereas previously that was very dangerous, with water making the rocks slippery.
“This will be SA Water filtered water going through the fountain and there’s no danger to the kids at all.
“There’s also a fence to protect any kids playing on the lawn area, so that’s not going straight out onto the main road.”
Mr Martinson said council would examine the potential of increasing car parks and improving pedestrian safety near the river front.
“We’ll be looking at increased parking, particularly on Fifteenth Street,” he said.
“One of the main things we’re focused on is crossing over the central lawn by the clock and crossing over the main road, so council is looking at that.
“That will take consultation with DPTI because it is their road, (but) we need to make sure it’s completely safe.”