Black Diamond Feasibility Study under way

The group recently selected Bunbury consulting company Harley Dykstra to conduct a feasibility study into Black Diamond Lake, in Allanson.

The study will review all existing and potential future uses for the area.

During the consultation phase, Collie River Valley Marketing inc. will discuss its plans with the relevant State Government departments, the Shire of Collie, and the community.

Phase One will see them conduct one-on-one interviews and hold workshops/information sessions. They will then present two Master Plan options for public comment.

Phases One and Two are scheduled for June and August respectively.

Collie River Valley Marketing inc. committee member Rosanne Pimm said the plans were moving in the right direction.

"We received a grant from the Collie Futures Fund which employed consultants to take on the job," she said.

"At this stage, we have had one meeting with the consultants, as well as another with members of the Allanson community.

"We did a walk-around of the Black Diamond area to create a list of ideas.

"We also wanted to familiarise the consultants with what the area was like.

"That's where we're at, at the moment. We're about to start getting into the real work and flushing out the real issues. We will also be holding extensive consultations.

"We are hoping to come up with a plan that is going to be sympathetic to the people that live in the area."

Ms Pimm said the main point of the plan was to increase tourism and resolve ongoing issues.

"There has been a long history of vandalism, littering, antisocial behaviour, and trespassing on people's properties," she said.

"So, we are hoping to come up with a plan to alleviate those problems.

"The main push behind doing something like this is to increase the amount of people coming into town and staying for longer."

The final master plan will be finished by September.

Once a plan is drawn up, the group will seek out funding opportunities for physical improvements.