Plans have begun to revitalise Burdekin Park after 40 dead
and dying trees were removed because of a significant flying fox population.
Council are now looking to the community to help decide what
the park’s next step should be.
“We’re going to go through a planning process where we
engage with our community,” says Singleton Council General Manager Jason Linnane.
Council will seek community feedback through a number of different paths, including social media services Facebook and Instagram, as well as traditional workshops.
"We'll be looking at a range of mediums to engage with our community and make sure we get as much as possible about the views and diversity that exist around the site," Linnane says.
The community is divided, however on what the next step
should be, with a number of ideas emerging.
“We are aware that there is conflicting views in the
community,” Linnane says.
“There’s some that would love to see the historical trees
returned to the park. There’s other that
would love to see it left more open.
“We’re going to work with our community and come up with a plan
that tries to balance all those differing views.”
Council also have plans of their own, with hopes the park
will move towards reflecting its historic, social and cultural importance.
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| The Burdekin Park Museum closed when the park became overrun by flying foxes. |
Linnane also hopes the ‘new look’ park will “highlight the important
historic monuments located there, such as the Historical Museum and War
Memorials”.
Access to these historic monuments were restricted when
Council closed the park in March, citing safety concerns from falling tree
branches, as well as disease risks from the flying foxes.
Another key part of the new plans will be protecting the new
Burdekin Park from the flying fox fate the old one had.
“Managing the interface between the bats and our community
will be an ongoing issue for Singleton Council like it is for many other on the
Eastern seaboard,” Linnane says.
“Our plans for the park will certainly take these factors
into consideration.”
[Image Source: Gary-Jon Lysaght].
