Tidy up!

Lawrie Hanson Park: not just locals but visitors are "appalled" at the state of our playgrounds and public areas

Lawrie Hanson Park: not just locals but visitors are “appalled” at the state of our playgrounds and public areas

When visiting Gympie in the holidays, we drove past Nelson Reserve. It prompted the kids to say “Mum, their parks are mowed. Why are they kept so well, when we have the tourists!”

The islands in our main street were so unkempt, local business owners were tempted to pull out their mowers.

It is frustrating when we rely on visitors to return and enjoy our beautiful area – and the simple things aren’t kept up to scratch.

It is even more disappointing when it is not just locals noticing. The Community News received this letter from Don Woollard:

I’m not a ratepayer of this town, but I’m appalled by the untidiness of the coastal parks area, especially Hanson Park, the walkway from the beach to the back area facing the ocean of the surf club, the park area and parking bays around the IGA complex.

Now I’ve spoken to town dignitaries of Rainbow Beach who say, ‘Oh, It will be cleaned before Christmas!’ But hang on, what does Gympie Shire Council spend your rate dollars on?

Is it you wait until before Christmas for your annual clean up? Shouldn’t your town be kept tidy ALL YEAR ROUND.

I’ve been living off and on at Rainbow Beach for near on six years, in this time I have noticed this nice lovely coastal town become more and more popular with visitors, holiday and backpackers. So let’s keep it tidy!”

We agree Don! Parks should be neat, fallen trees removed, and is it really too much to ask that faulty equipment be replaced, instead of fenced off?

In May last year, the priority for implementation of the Revitalisation Plan was: the replacement of the existing public amenities, picnic facilities and playground at Laurie Hanson Park, including a number of activities new to the playground. The plan was drafted in 2013.

It’s now 2017 – perhaps implementation is due.

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