River Torrens walkers left in the dark for months – and the new lights haven’t even left the suppliers in Italy yet

WALKERS have been left in the dark for months along the River Torrens Linear Park – and in a “bizarre” twist, the new light globes are from an Italian supplier and not due to arrive until July.

Bruce McIntyre with his dog Zoe says he’s been walking it the “pitch black” for months. Picture: Stephen Laffer

• Inquiry called after fellow councillor didn’t reply to phone call for three days

DOG WALKERS have been left in the dark for months along the River Torrens Linear Park – and there’s no hope of a fix any time soon.

Lights on a popular stretch of Linear Park near Gallery Rd in Highbury blew out in March, but replacement parts are still sitting in Italy.

Highbury dog walker Bruce McIntyre told Leader Weekly “three or four” park lights have been out for several months.

He says his inquiries to Tea Tree Gully Council officials revealed “a bizarre story”, with the Italian supplier apparently “in no hurry” to despatch replacements.

“Meanwhile us dog walkers must endure unsafe conditions of a pitch-black walking trail,” Mr McIntyre says.

“Why are they buying lights from Italy, and why are no spares available?”

Tea Tree Gully Cr Peter Field, who was first notified of the issue in early May, was equally frustrated.

“It’s a true story – there’s about four out,” he said.

“I’m angry and disappointed, frustrated, surprised that here we are and it’s still not resolved.

“I’ve been following this up weekly.”

He was disappointed council staff had not kept adequate supplies of spares.

“We must, through a supplier or through our own warehouse, keep adequate spare parts to fix them in a timely fashion,” he said.

“If not, I’ll have to go to the extraordinary step of putting in a notice of motion.

“It’s extraordinary because it’s a basic maintenance issue.”

The council’s manager of civil assets, Gabby D’Aloia, said the lights would be repaired as soon as fittings arrived.

“Unfortunately the light fittings take up to a 12-week lead time from date of order and we expect they will arrive in early July,” he said.

“Signs on how to report light outages will be installed in the park so we can be made aware of any further outages.”

Mr D’Aloia said the repair process offered the chance to install the latest technology, reducing future costs and improving reliability.