By Dominique Tassell
Southern Downs Regional Council has released a list of all the green space it maintains in the region, all of which is set to be included in the parks optimisation program.
You can find the list included in this article by clicking through the pictures above.
The list includes not only the parks in the region but also green spaces such as Allora Scout Reserve, Dalveen Hall Grounds, Karara Hall Grounds, Killarney Showgrounds, Mt Marlay lookout, Storm King Dam, and all the cemeteries and town entrances.
Initially, Mayor Pennisi stated this list could not be released until councillors have been briefed “so they understand what’s going on before anyone else”.
When asked why was a motion was put forward in November containing parks such as Arcoola Park and Pennant Park when councillors hadn’t been briefed, Mayor Pennisi stated that they ultimately left the motion to lay on the table due to this.
“We’ve had changes of staff and they’re not aware of the work that’s been had in the past. So it’s important that we brief our councillors and the staff with where we were at with those things.”
He stated he was about to start a media campaign in relation to some of these parks, to try and “put a little bit of calm back into the conversation”.
Mayor Pennisi stated he uses the word “greenspace” instead of “parks”, though he had been using the word parks for our entire conversation.
We stated this use of the word ‘parks’ may have led to confusion.
Mayor Pennisi did later state they need to make a decision about whether they want to focus on destination parks or not.
“If we go down that path, a lot of that infrastructure will go in and then some of those parks might get revisited”
“It’s a helicopter view of the green space”
“There are about 500 hectares of green space just in Warwick if you include Morgan Park and the creek and those sorts of areas.”
“I’m not saying that we’re not going to sell some of those green spaces, because Clintonvale is one that we are likely to … why have we got it? We don’t need that land.”
