Federation Council’s Bronwyn Thomas wants a council hurry-up on the 10-year, $10 million Mulwala Foreshore Master Plan devised in 2014.
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Cr Thomas told council’s monthly June 23 on-line meeting that a very major concern for the Mulwala community is in and around the Apex Park and the waterslide.
She recalled the time of Federation Council’s inaugural councillor workshop in October 2017, which was in Mulwala.
“This was a topic of that workshop,” she said. “How far have we come? I’d say ‘not very far’.”
For council’s latest monthly meeting, Cr Thomas successfully moved a Notice of Motion that the Mulwala Foreshore Public Open Space Master Plan be reviewed in Federation Council’s 2020/2021 Operational Plan.
She wants council to revisit and move the plan forward as quickly as possible, imploring council to look at solutions sooner rather than later.
The community has raised the subject, especially the waterslide component, plenty of times and it would be to council’s detriment if something wasn’t done soon according to Cr Thomas.
“The All-Abilities Adventure Playground at Purtle Park (further along the foreshore) is going to look spectacular,” Cr Thomas told councillors. “Let’s make all along the foreshore spectacular.
“Let’s capitalize on this recommendation and engage the community, and in the first half of this financial year rather than the second half.”
Deputy Mayor Shaun Whitechurch said about $50,000 to $60,000 would have been spent on consultants who prepared the Mulwala foreshore master plan and mentioned the significance of master plans.
“We’ve got everyone up and talking about it,” he said. “We’ve got to be working on master plans all the time.”
Some works have occurred in and around Apex Park – including a new toilet block about 15 years ago, and a few years ago with roadworks and carpark – under the previous Corowa Shire Council.
Despite a huge workload with big new projects throughout the Federation Council area via $10 million worth of financial grants resulting from the merger of Urana and Corowa Shires in 2016, the Mulwala community is wanting a progressive implementation of the 2014 mater plan, especially at what was considered to be the foreshore’s main and biggest attraction of people, Apex Park, and in particular, efforts to retain an operational waterslide, actioned.
In other news, Cr Thomas also wants follow-up action on the Kyffins Reserve project, for which a draft plan was prepared in 2013 under the previous Corowa Shire Council.
The plan incorporates various aspects requiring attention and/or improvement including camping and a pathway through the reserve.
“We’ll check to see if the plan can be included in next year’s program. It certainly needs doing,” Federation Council’s General Manger Adrian Butler said. Cr Norm Wales added: “It’s a great bit of land.” Mayor Pat Bourke agreed. “It needs attention,” he said.