Local residents fume with atrocious condition of Nuriootpa duck pond due to lack of maintenance
Nuriootpa residents are disappointed with the poor condition of the Nuriootpa duck pond, which they claim has not been maintained.
Barossa, Clare & Gawler
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Nuriootpa resident Megan Nitschke wants to see a local duck pond maintained after its condition has continued to deteriorate over the years.
Ms Nitschke said only a few weeks ago, the pond was blossoming with wildlife and greenery after a bit of rain, but now it’s in grim condition.
“It’s very dry, it hasn’t been maintained,” she said.
“The only thing that’s really been maintained has been the Bush Chapel and that’s done by the Bushgardens organisers.
“The duck pond has been empty for a very long time, we might get some rain and it’ll look like it has water.
“From 11 days it looked from it was full of water to nothing.
“There was ducklings in there and now there’s nothing.
Ms Nitschke said she used to visit the duck pond when she was younger with her grandmother, and that it started going down hill around 10 to 15 years ago.
“I remember hearing they’d (Barossa Council) dug out the clay or something, and there was always talk they’d reline it and keep it lush, and it never happened,” she said.
“There used to be more for kids to do, there was fishing competitions.
“You’d catch the carp and get rid of them.
“It’s become very bland.”
She added she’s in the process of contacting the Barossa Council in an effort to get the pond restored.
“It’d be nice if what was once a nice environment of families was restored,” she said.
“The pond itself would be nice, and we want to maintain wildlife.
“A lot of people have spoken to council, I’m in the process of writing a letter to them to see what can be done.
“It’s a massive landmark for the Barossa that’s not getting attention.
“Yes we’re the winery area, but not everyone drinks wine.”