It has been nine months since the Crater Lakes precinct was significantly burned and work is still under way to reinstate and make better the iconic tourist attraction.

At the request of Councillor Paul Jenner, a number of updates on the precinct were provided at a recent Mount Gambier City Council meeting.

Cr Jenner asked about the future fire management of the precinct, lighting of the Centenary Tower and reopening of trails.

“Given the community’s interest, the heritage and symbolic importance of Mount Gambier’s leading light being the Centenary Tower, when will electricity and lighting resume and why it has taken a very long time to repair?” he said.

City Infrastructure general manager Barbara Cernovskis said a report outlining the recovery strategy would be presented to council for decision by the end of the year.

“Council officers are investigating recommendations from a remediation report prepared by Wokurna Forestry Pty Ltd and engaging with the appropriate stakeholders,” she said.

“Fire preventative measures that have started include chipping of the upper track trees, inclusion of the Crater Lakes precinct in the Limestone Coast Bushfire Management Action Plan.

“Engagement with CFS, MFS and National Parks to prepare fire prevention methodologies are all under way.”

Ms Cernovskis said an insurance claim had been lodged for the damage repairs to the electricity cable damaged and was under assessment.

“Fires caused a SA Power Networks cable to be damaged along with other infrastructure in the area,” she said.

“The significance of the site and the repairs required have been highlighted and council officers will be meeting with the relevant agency onsite to progress the claim.”