The Mandalay Newsletter June 2005

 

The Council has decided to draw up another master plan for the redevelopment of our central park.

This is the fourth plan of this type in recent years and in many ways the worst.

While there are some proposed features that would be of some benefit there are others that the committee is not comfortable with.
The proposal to turn a natural lagoon into a concrete walled pond with concrete paths around is not something we would like to see. The removal of the weeping willows and other trees possibly including the Jacarandas is not on either.

A proposed basketball half court will be popular with some but not those who have seen the regular misuse of this type of facility with night noise and smashed glass as a common result.

Setting up of a kickabout area is OK but in-stalling football posts and nets will result in the future leasing of the area to a private club regardless of what the Council says now.

The Council will display the plans at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday 4th June in the central park for community comment.

I know that many of you have lost confidence in these community consultations since the local planning farce when the Council asked for community involvement and then ignored what the community said because it didn’t agree with the Council’s original planning.

My involvement with this master plan over past weeks has not been encouraging but it is worth a few minutes to express your views.

Our research over the years has shown that most Mandalay residents love the natural look and feel of our central park.

It is something that has become very rare in Brisbane. An area of parkland cherished and cared for because it is as natural as we could make it or wish it to be.

The Council always seems to be unable to resist trying to improve on nature with the use of steel and concrete, paint and plastic. They use the term “green” but seem to have little understanding of what it really means. There was even a suggestion that the concrete could be painted green. That’s nature at its finest, isn’t it?

Annual subscriptions for the Mandalay Progress Association are now due.

It would be really appreciated if you could put your fees either cash or cheque, in the envelope provided and place it or post it in the locked letterbox at 28 Michelangelo Street.

Membership fees are $10 per family per year. Strong membership gives us a better opportunity to represent local residents in community affairs.

Warren Fletcher
President
 

< Back >         

© 2001 Mandalay Progress Association Inc