$7m waterfront upgrade boosts drought-stricken Eyre Peninsula town

A major waterfront overhaul will turn Cowell into a “destination” and help it overcome the pummelling it suffered through drought and a disease crippling its oyster industry, local leaders hope.

An artist's impression of plans for Cowell's foreshore upgrade. Picture: Supplied

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A $7 million overhaul of Cowell’s waterfront will provide a timely boost for the district, which has been pummeled by the drought and disease that has hammered its oyster industry.

Franklin Harbour Council will spend the money on a foreshore upgrade and new marina at the Eyre Peninsula town in a bid to capitalise on its tourism potential.

The council has won a $3 million grant from the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund, adding to its own pool of money and grants from the State Government.

That means work can start within a month.

It will include a new visitor information centre, food hall, market building, restaurant, swimming pool, playground, amphitheatre and exercise equipment.

Franklin Harbor Council chief executive Chris Smith said the projects would provide up to 40 jobs during construction and another 75 once work was complete.

“All of a sudden, it will make Cowell a destination,” Mr Smith said.

“It’s going to make a big difference, that’s for sure. It's going to be really spiffy when it’s done.

“There’s a massive water playground going in as part of that money — that's nearly $1 million on its own, and it will be the first water park playground on the Eyre Peninsula.”

Mr Smith said the council was “cock-a-hoop” it had received the federal money for the project after three years of applications, saying the extra activity in town would also provide more business for local hotels, shops and the real estate market.

“I think we’ve got some sympathy for the fact that we’re in drought,” Mr Smith said.

Work on the marina is likely to be complete around the end of the year and the foreshore project will take up to five years.

The town of 1200 people was also suffering from the effects of Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS) on Australia’s aquaculture industry, with about 30 locals employed in the sector, compared with 70 a few years ago.

POMS was discovered in Tasmania in 2016, decimating the $24 million industry and closing the borders to SA growers who had received 80 per cent of their spat (oyster lavae) from the region.

Tourism officer Stacey Franklin said the work helped draw more road tripping families to the town.

“We’ve had POMS hit our oyster industry really hard and the drought with our agriculture industry,” Mrs Franklin said.

“We’re really trying to build our tourism industry so when we do have tough times, we can keep people employed in town.”

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