Crystal Brook resident Dave Clarke’s plan for a Central Park cut down by DPTI and Port Pirie Regional Council
Crystal Brook resident Dave Clarke, 74, is single-handedly trying to turn an eyesore block of land into a park with hundreds of trees. But the authorities have found an issue that’s forced him to stop his planting.
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One man’s mission to plant hundreds of trees in a neglected wasteland has been stopped dead in its tracks.
Dave Clarke, 74, of Crystal Brook, took it upon himself to plant more than 500 trees, shrubs and other natives on land southwest of the Mid North town’s railway line. But now the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure has banned entry to the area.
“I just want to do something of value for the community I’m living in, it helps makes my life worthwhile,” Mr Clarke said.
“Most townspeople, not surprisingly, would rather see the land looked after and turned into an attractive park than being largely neglected, as it has been for most of the 45 years I’ve lived in Crystal Brook.”
He kept a record of his efforts to create Central Park.
The department said site was contaminated and should be further assessed and remediated to avoid a public health risk. It has installed signs to deter people entering the site.
“As operational rail sources can result in remnant contamination of railway land, soil assessments and appropriate remediation would need to be undertaken before deeming the site suitable for recreational use of the land,” a spokesman said.
“The signage on this land was therefore installed to deter unauthorised use by the community which may present a risk to human health.”
Mr Clarke would like to see the land put to good use, as in the Clare Valley, where he has a second home.
“In a number of other places in SA and interstate land that was once used for railways has been turned over for public uses such as walking and cycling trails,” he said.
“In the Clare Valley the Riesling Trail, in which I have had some small involvement, follows an old railway line. It has become one of the most popular features of the Clare Valley.”
The rail corridor in Crystal Brook is owned by the Australian Rail Track Corporation, but the land adjacent to the rail corridor is owned by the department.
In January the department approached the Port Pirie Regional Council to determine if the Council would be willing to licence the site for beautification and community use.
However the Port Pirie Regional Council declined that offer, choosing to pursue other projects in in Crystal Brook instead.
“Port Pirie Regional Council received an enquiry from DPTI regarding the former railway land exploring Council’s interest in the use of this land for beautification/community purposes,” a spokeswoman said.
“Small levels of contamination due to the former railway activity make the area more suited to industrial use rather than community or recreational use.”
