$1 million funding support for Port Wakefield renovation

Wakefield Regional Council says new improvements to Port Wakefield’s Edward Street and tidal basin precinct have now been secured under a $1 million state grant.

SA Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven visited Port Wakefield to announce funding through the PIRSA Enabling Infrastructure Programme.

The injection of funds for the Cultural Connection Celebrating Port Wakefield project, which has already been supported with $619,000 from the Federal Government’s Roads and Local Infrastructure Program and $500,000 from the State Government’s Open Spaces and Places for People program, will see Edward Street transformed during the following year.

In addition to Council’s contribution of $200,000 for the dredging of the tidal basin and $500,000 for the Edward Street upgrade, this recent funding will bring the project total to $2.81 million.

Mayor Rodney Reid said the project has been a long time coming.

“We’ve known Port Wakefield has needed an upgrade for a long time, but we were wary of what might happen with the highway upgrade,” he said.

“Now this project is complete, we can revitalize Port Wakefield and attract people to this great city.

“Council has done a huge amount of community consultation to ensure this project delivers the community’s vision all the way from the motorway along Edward Street to the foreshore precinct.

“Through our master plan, we’ve worked towards something that will work for both residents and tourists, with the ultimate goal of making Port Wakefield a tourist destination, more than just a thoroughfare.”

Works on the precinct will include a new town center square on Edward Street, tree planting, trolley path and ramp upgrades, the establishment of an Indigenous art trail leading to the foreshore precinct where the derelict tidal basin promenade will be replaced with a new. bridge that will allow kayaking under it and provide better access to the water for swimmers.

Topping it all off will be the long-awaited dredging of the tidal basin.

“This funding will give the project the boost it needs to deliver our vision for the area, it will be very exciting times in Port Wakefield,” Mayor Reid said.

“We are incredibly grateful for the state government’s support for this project.”