Kintore plan a 'win for all'

Published on 01 August 2019

A move to sell part of Kintore reserve appears set to benefit the Police, the West Darling Machinery Preservation Society (WDMPS), and the Broken Hill community.

Councillors last night voted to make part of the reserve available for purchase, paving the way for the Police to establish a new $16 million station in the heart of the city.

Mayor Darriea Turley AM said the retention of a major service such as the Police in the CBD would help slow the decline of Argent Street.

"The retention of the Police will mean that up to 100 jobs will remain in the CBD, and the trade they generate will continue to be of benefit to our main street," said Mayor Turley.

"It also allows the Police to maintain a central location from which they can respond to calls for assistance across the city."

Mayor Turley said the plan would also allow the picnic train currently operated on the Kintore site by the WDMPS to be relocated to the Queen Elizabeth Park.

"The relocation of the picnic train will revitalise the park in the long term, it's a move both Council and the WDMPS are very excited about," said Mayor Turley.

"It will provide a great new family attraction for the park, and give the WDMPS access to power, water, shade, barbecues, and other amenities that they currently don’t have at the Kintore site.

"The WDMPS also have some really great ideas around complementing the train with some new railway-themed play equipment, and we look forward to sitting down with them and discussing how we can make this vision a reality.

"It's going to be a transformative process for the park that will hopefully see it become a prized community asset like Patton Park."

Mayor Turley said she believed the overarching plan was a rare instance in which everyone benefits from a decision.

"As most people would know, it's very difficult to make a decision at any level government that leaves everyone happy," she said.

"However we see this plan as a win for everyone involved, and I would like to thank all parties for their hard work and cooperation to achieve this outcome for our city."