Grant Council scraps Port MacDonnell Old Boatyard car park plan on EPA advice

Arsenic has been blamed for shelving a plan to build a car park on seaside real estate, but accommodation and retail developments could still be on the cards.

Plans to turn a former Limestone Coast boatyard into a car park have been scrapped, but seaside accommodation and retail developments may still be possible despite arsenic contamination.

After years of gridlock the Old Boatyard in Port MacDonnell was poised for redevelopment but an Environment Protection Authority ruling has led District Council of Grant back to the drawing board.

The Old Boatyard in Port MacDonnell. Picture: District Council of Grant

The council purchased the site in 2006, voting to seal it to create a car park and public events space subject to the EPA’s approval in late 2019.

Groundwater Monitoring Report and Site Management Plans revealed the proposed garden beds surrounding the car park for drainage purposes were not suitable due to arsenic contamination levels exceeding guidelines for drinking water and primary industries in February.

The Old Boatyard in Port MacDonnell. Picture: District Council of Grant

A new report handed down at Monday night’s meeting recommended council abandon the project which had been allocated $92,000 in its 2020/2021 budget.

Works manager Adrian Schutz said the funds would likely not cover a plan that would fulfil the EPA’s requirements including a two coat spray seal to the entire site and free standing above ground garden beds.

“The EPA don’t want to have garden beds that were going to be used as drainage,” Mr Schutz said.

The proposed plan to turn a vacant, former boatyard into a car park was endorsed by council on the condition it was approved by the Environment Protection Authority. Picture: District Council of Grant

“The plan that was proposed is no longer going to happen and the money in there is not adequate to seal the boat yard.

“At this time of year it’s probably too late to start that type of work leading into the winter months.”

Instead the council will shift focus to developing the Old Boatyard with a prospectus to be designed with the Department for Trade and Investment ahead of with a formalised an expression of interest process.

Chief executive Darryl Whicker said the land presented an opportunity and the Port MacDonnell community had been previously consulted during the creation of a master plan.

The Old Boatyard as proposed in the Port MacDonnell Urban Design Framework and Precinct Master Plans in 2014. Picture: District Council of Grant

“They are interested in something that is a retail, accommodation type precinct rather than the option of townhouses,” he said.

“Building houses would be problematic as you’d have gardens but an industrial type development will probably be better off in that space.”

The report also said there had been recent discussions with a local developer who has shown interest in the site.

Councillors votes to defer the sealing of the Old Boatyard to allow for consideration of any development proposals before its current, future use and development is reconsider during the 2022-23 financial year.