An impressive series of art panels have been installed under the fig trees as part of the renewal of the western end of the Parnkalla Trail which is one component of the Port Lincoln Foreshore Project.
The art panels were designed by Galinyala Barngarla artists Jenna and Vera Richards, who were selected through a public Expression of Interest process. The art work were laser cut and fabricated by local company Plazma Cuts.
This element of the Foreshore Project supports the creation of connections to first nation’s people and place through the incorporation of First Nations storytelling and cultural interpretation which is one of the project’s key objectives.
At the launch Jenna explained the story behind the design.
"Our design links into the actual site of the fig trees up above us on the deck. They form part of the 7 sisters dreaming. Trees and water are life. For us, the trees are our fellow sisters and brothers, in the case of the fig trees, they are the 3 sisters of the Pleiades. In our design, we showcase the lady of the tree, and this is talking about the spirits that are within all living things including our trees and plant life, creatures of the sea, land and sky.
We have symbols throughout the design representing our people and family gathering together. This shows that we are one and the same with our environmental surroundings. We also have the Karkalla plant, our native pig face which is a food source for our people and this is scattered all across our Barngarla yardanha country especially along the wambiri coastline.
We’ve included the gooya, the fish throughout our design. This is another food source. But also applies to Goorilyali which is our name for Boston Bay which translates to the Bay of dancing fish. It’s also ironic that Port Lincoln is well known for our aquaculture seafood industry and that we have fish farms within our Bay and our traditional Barngarla name correlates to bay of dancing fish.
But back in the day, we also have been told that there were songs and dance that our old people used to do to sing in the sharks and dolphins and whales to push the fish into our shallow waters where they would be caught in our traditional fish traps made of stones and sticks. We still have fish traps that are around our coastline which are more noticeable during the low tides. These are unfortunately becoming less and less due to not being maintained due to lack of access.
In the last panel we have Nammana our sacred whale and the 3 sisters riding on his tail. Nammana is one of our Dreamtime stories and he was responsible for creating our wambiri coastline.
He also brought our people on his back to Galinyala Port Lincoln and we still look to him for guidance in our times of need. He was also our late father’s totem and this gives him even more special meaning and significance for me and my sister and our family as a whole.
Ngami Yarda Mother Nature and her creatures look after us and provide for us so we must in turn look out for them as well.
Port Lincoln and surrounding areas are also well known to be a whale sanctuary. Whalers Way used to be the nursery and it has taken many years for the whales to return and feel safe again in our waters after what happened many moons ago with the whaling industry being based around here.
We also have Thindoo the sun, the bringer of light and life and without him, we wouldn’t have life on earth. Majority of the world and nature needs the sun to survive so Thindoo is also very important to us.
The border across the tops and bottoms of each panel represents the crosses on our shield that represents our people and our whole Barngarla tribe. Barngarla stands for fire people, people of the light and our ancient boundary extends from Galinyala (Port Lincoln) to Goordnada (Port Augusta) and surrounding areas.
We enjoyed working on this project with you and we look forward to future endeavours.
Yoowa walira
Bawoo"
Photo Left to Right: Art Panel Artists Jenna Richards and Vera Richards
Maritime Construction has been engaged by Council to undertake the jetty renewal works and includes installation of new piles, plie bracketry, girders and cross bracing plus replacement of decking, kerbing and handrails.
The full cost of renewal of the jetty is $3.1 million and is partially funded by the State Government of South Australia's Local Government Infrastructure Partnership Program.
The budget provides for reconstruction of the jetty up to bent 31 which is three bents past the end of the swimming enclosure with provisional sum to complete up to bent 36 where the jetty narrows. Note: in simple terms a jetty bent: is the "frame" of the jetty that grounds the jetty, the section between two piles to the next.
The Swimming Enclosure will remain closed for the duration of the works.
Jetty renewal works should be completed by the end of October 2023.
Council and the State Government are working together to renew the jetty through the Local Government Infrastructure Partnership Program (LGIPP), the cost of restoring the full lengh of the jetty is more than originally planned. The Expression of Interest (EOI) for philanthropic and/or sponsorship has been advertised and closes on Monday 17 July 2023.
The jetty is measured by the number of bents, and in total, the Port Lincoln Town Jetty consists of 40 bents. On the basis that Council works will extend to Bent 36, the cost to renew the full length of the jetty to Bent 40 requires additional funding of approximately $450,000. Council is hoping that an interested party or parties will contibute to funding the complete renewal of the Port Lincoln Town Jetty whilst the Maritime Construction team are already mobilised on site.
Council is in discussion with Maritime Constructions about the timber. If you are interested in the timber please leave your contact details with Council reception staff and you'll be placed on a register.
Council is committed to deliver 'much needed parts of the seawall and Parnkalla Trail path', when it adopted the Port Lincoln Foreshore Concept Plan in June 2021.
Works at the eastern end of the trail (Port Lincoln Yacht Club end) involve replacing the old concrete path with pavers and are scheduled to be completed by end of July 2023.
Works at the western end of the trail aim to improve accessbility and provide additional protection from coastal erosion. Works is expected to be finished by early September 2023 with all things going to plan, and dependent on tides.
McMahon Services are undertaking some night works on the western end of the Parnkalla Trail and seawall as the tides are lower. These works include trenching, rock and geofabric placement.
Consistent with contemporary playground design the playspace will not be fully fenced. The playspace design has been reviewed by Play DMC, an independent playground inspector.
A 1200mm (1.2m) high post and wire fence will run along the Tasman Terrace side of the playspace with raised garden beds acting as a barrier on the beach side.
The water play area is not designed as a splash park. The water play area is inspired by Eyre Peninsula coastal fish traps. The water play feature includes a rock weir, and steppers, along with water spray and push button connected to mains water.
South Australian contractor Elton Landscapes has been appointed to build the exciting new Nature, Adventure and Junior playspace.
Tenders were invited from companies which were shortlisted through the Request for Expression of Interest process for the supply, delivery, and construction of a new Nature, Adventure and Junior playspace with integrated nature play elements on the Port Lincoln Foreshore.
The short-listed responses were evaluated against the following criteria:
On completion of the evaluation process, Elton Landscapes was identified as demonstrating best overall score and as result the recommended preferred provider.
The contract for the early works demolition package, to remove the dais, was awarded to local company, Kym Clarke Construction partnering with Carl's Excavation following a competitive open RFT (Request for Tender) process.
Elton Landscapes has already made arrangements with local subcontractors - Origin Paving and Landscaping, Chris Cash Plumbing and Gas Fitting and Diggin It Earthworks.
Martin Elton Director has also stated:
"We will be contacting a lot more local companies we have already worked with and others in the near future where we have not already. That said always open if anyone from entry level employee, through to trade or possible subby wants to reach out looking for opportunities. For work on this project or in Adelaide. Martin@eltonlandscapes.com.au or 0433 771 654."
The State Government's Local Government Infrastructure Partnership Program is contributing $3.640 million towards the Port Lincoln Foreshore Project, 50% of the funding, with the balance from Council.
Using a hired turf cutter, the Elton Landscapes team have cut the turf to be reused at the Port Lincoln Special School and Cummins Areas School.
The pavers have been carefully removed and stacked onto pallets and are being stored at the depot. The pavers are planned to be reused in a footpath project in Washington Street.
All things going well the playspace will be finished by December 2022.
The Foreshore Redevelopment project is expected to create benefits for Port Lincoln in the areas of tourism, recreation, community connection and event attraction.
The project will deliver:
Decisions about the parking arrangement on the foreshore are not being made in isolation. Importantly, several preceding studies and investigations adopted by Council form the basis for the recommended changes.
Precincts Master Plan
The 2018 co-design workshops and 2019 engagement with the community highlighted a strong desire for the area near the town jetty to be upgraded and 'activated'. As the natural energy centre of our town, this is the prime location on our foreshore - the ideal place to showcase our identity and culture. Elements of play, public art, history and high quality open space can be brought together to create an iconic regional destination for locals and tourists alike.
CBD Access & Car Parking Action Plan
Council's recently adopted CBD Access & Car Parking Action Plan highlights several points relevant to our Foreshore Redevelopment Project:
Along with requests for more parking spaces, feedback on the action plan also highlighted strong community need for more pick up and drop off spaces, short term parking and wheelchair accessible spaces in prominent locations.
Foreshore Redevelopment Project
The Foreshore Redevelopment Project aims to make Port Lincoln’s popular foreshore more accessible for all. Currently people with a disability or mobility issues, families with young children and tour operators struggle to safely access the foreshore. As space in this area is at a premium, any improvements in access for these minority groups will result in a reduction in the number of car spaces. Council has been working hard to minimise this impact.
Under the latest concept plans, Council is proposing reconfiguring the car park to introduce a parallel parking lane. This lane will result in the loss of only six parking spaces, but will deliver key benefits:
Council understands community concern about the loss of car parking spaces and has revised the planned car park reconfiguration to reduce the loss of parking spaces from 23 to 6.
Council has also in March this year created 7 extra car parks in Washington Street to offset any car park loss along the foreshore, and is investigating a further 7 also in Washington Street. Council will continue to work hard to increase access to parking in our CBD and other parts of the foreshore in line with the actions outlined in the recently adopted CBD Access & Car Parking Action Plan. The intention of Council is that the short term actions from this plan (including opening up extra parking spaces) will be delivered prior to the Foreshore Redevelopment Project being completed.
The total Foreshore Redevelopment Project cost is $7.6M, including $350,000 for jetty renewal. This cost has been revised down from an initial precinct plan with an estimated cost of $18m. The project was awarded 50% matching funding of $3.62m in March 2021 through the SA Government’s Local Government Infrastructure Partnership Programme. The total expected cost to Council to deliver the project is $3.62M + $350,000 allocated towards jetty renewal.
Council has been consulting with and listening to the Port Lincoln community since 2018 when work began to create the concept for the Foreshore Redevelopment.
Over this time, surveys and community consultation periods have shown majority support for the project. The jetty upgrade is supported by tour vessel operators and the SA Tourism Commission. Council has actively responded to community concerns with elements of the project, such as the loss of car parking spaces, by working with its contractor to revise the concept designs in response to public feedback. Further, it’s significantly cut the cost of the project from $18m to now $7.24m.