Jack Hudson

PLAYFORD councillor Clint Marsh is looking for suggestions to transform the old Smithfield Plains High School site.

The school was closed more than a decade ago and since then had been vandalised on multiple occasions before the buildings were removed later on.

With the site unutilised and just the remaining concrete slabs in the middle of Smithfield Plains, Cr Marsh is eager to see what Playford residents would like in that space.

“The next stage I’d like to do is gather a couple of local residents from the Davoren Park and Smithfield Plains area,” he said.

“This is an unofficial gathering of myself and residents, I’m steering it and over time it will be a significant journey and challenging, but it’s one I’m happy to take and I know residents will.

“I want to continue the strong working relationship we’ve formed with the site owners, the City of Playford and our local state representative in putting suggestions forth on what this site could be utilised for, not just for residential properties, but an open space and infrastructure the youth could utilise as well.

“That’s one of the passions for me is to drive an open space.”

Some suggestions which had already filtered through via social media included open space and housing for the elderly.

“Through social media, the residents have asked for some nice open space, with barbecue facilities and where they can kick a ball or two, so an oval of some sort,” Cr Marsh said.

“I’ve even had suggestions about a nature park playground, and I think something like that in this older area needs to thrive.

“I did meet up with a couple of residents last year before COVID and I was keen to kick this off then, and one resident suggested if there could be housing for the older generation that are struggling with just living expenses and there could be specific housing open to them.”

For anyone wishing to contact Cr Marsh, they can do so via his Facebook page.