Pt Pirie smiles after upgrades

The council is also working on a significant project aimed at attracting more major sporting events to the region.

Chief executive officer Andrew Johnson said that in April council opened up Beach Road from Main Road Solomontown to through traffic.

"By opening up access to Beach Road, it created a much more attractive entrance to Solomontown Beach," he said.

"The aim was to increase the utilisation of the area, and we've already seen much greater usage since April."

Dr Johnson said that when the upgraded area was officially opened in April, the Port Pirie Producers Market was held there.

"That was well attended and it showed the potential of the area," he said.

He said a major principle adopted in the design of the plaza was to create a public space that functioned efficiently and be viewed as an inviting and attractive space for people to use and interact.

Old trees were removed from the site and new paving and landscaping added, improving the amenity of the area.

The project cost was $400,000, funded jointly by the council and state government People for Places funding.

Another major project completed in early September, recently was the replacement of the former boat ramp with two new ramps.

"This upgrade has significantly improved boat access into the area," Dr Johnson said.

The project cost $350,000 and was funded jointly by council and state government Recreational Boating and Fishing funds.

The second part of the project to upgrade the marine facilities in the town involved dredging around the boat ramps.

"In the next couple of months we'd also like to further improve the foreshore area,'' Dr Johnson said. "We're planning on putting in toilet blocks down there and dredging around the boat ramp to further improve access for boats."

The council was also working on a major $15 million project which would see the creation of a multi-purpose sporting facility at the Memorial Oval Sporting Precinct.

* Full report in Stock Journal, October 23, 2014 issue.