Leigh Creek residents have described a sombre mood as about 200 vacant properties are demolished to reduce the remote South Australian town to a more sustainable size.
Key points:
- Around 200 empty buildings have been marked for demolition across Leigh Creek
- The state government’s transformation plan aimed to reduce the town to a more sustainable size
- The government assumed ownership of the town following the end of local coal mining
The state government began the demolition earlier this year as part of its Leigh Creek Transformation plan following the end of local coal mining.
Resident Mark Austin said the remaining locals were sad to see their town left bare.
“It’s a lonely little town at the moment [with] only about 120 people, maybe less.
“We’re all trying to band together, you know, keep our spirits up.
After uploading a video to social media showing a street of vacant blocks, Mr Austin said many ex-residents left comments sharing their upset feelings at seeing their childhood homes knocked down.
“I’ve had a few requests of, ‘Can you go around to my old house in Marlock Place or Black Oak Drive and take a photo of my old house?’,” he said.
“Just for a memory, you know.”
Leigh Creek was formerly a company town, home to hundreds of workers at the local coal mine, but when it closed the state government assumed ownership.
Leaseholders in the town who were there at the time of transfer to the government were given the option of purchasing their properties, with locals having the option to salvage items from the condemned homes.
Creating a ‘viable town’
Leigh Creek Task Force independent chaireperson Paul Case said the project had been developed in close consultation with the local community.
“The community in the main has been very supportive of the program,” he said.
Mr Case said the area that was being demolished had been abandoned for a significant period of time.
“Those buildings have become dilapidated, unsafe, [and] many of them are a fire hazard,” he said.
He said members of the task force meet with the community every month to update locals on the project and answer any questions.
“The overall aim is to ensure that Leigh Creek becomes a functioning town that provides a very good base for tourism, for people who wish to live in that part of South Australia,” Mr Case said.
“It will be an open town that will support the region and make a major contribution to the northern Flinders Ranges.”
The project is expected to be completed within the next 18 months.