By Jeremy Cook
Stanthorpe’s historic 70-year-old Weeroona Park fountain could be demolished in revelations which the Southern Downs Regional Council have denied making any firm decision on.
The Southern Downs council’s latest budget is understood to contain a “contingency fund” which will facilitate the fountain’s removal, pending community consultation.
But in a statement provided to Warwick Stanthorpe Today, a council spokeswoman claimed “no firm decision has been made regarding its removal”.
The fountain was first opened by Chairman of the old Stanthorpe Shire Fred Rogers in October 1954 in honour of Glen Aplin tin miner and orchardist James Benedict Ferris who also served as the shire’s chairman for 17 years until 1947.
More recently, persistent water leaks and drought measures have rendered the fountain out of commission for a number of years, the council spokeswoman said.
“As space in Weeroona Park is highly valued, [the] council must consider the broader community’s perspectives on the best use of this area,” the spokeswoman said.
“Consequently, In the upcoming financial year, [the] council will engage in community consultation to determine the future of the fountain and the optimal use of this space.
“If the decision is made to remove the fountain, the proposed 2024/25 council budget includes a contingency fund to facilitate this process.
“Further consultation will then be conducted to explore alternative uses for the area, potentially involving new landscape designs and constructions, with funding sought in the 2025/26 council budget.
“Alternatively, if it is decided that the fountain should remain, the budget allocation will be redirected towards its restoration or another priority project within the council.”
Revelations it could be demolished drew strong backlash online.
In separate posts to social media, Councillors Morwenna Harslett and Russell Wantling sought to allay concerns over the fountain’s future.
“I can assure you that at the moment all that has happened is that there is a line item in the draft budget for … allocating funds to do ‘something’ with the fountain,” Cr Harslett said.
“If and when the budget is passed, council will then engage in community consultation to determine the future of the fountain,” she said.
Cr Wantling said the council was “fully aware” of the fountain’s historical importance “and would never consider demolishing something of such significance without public consultation”.
Asked when consultation would occur, a council spokeswoman confirmed no date had been set.
Stanthorpe resident Jim Barnes questioned why the council had already budgeted for its removal if they hadn’t made a decision yet.
“When’s the community engagement going to happen? Why put a contingency thing in there?,” Mr Barnes said.
Rather than demolish it, Mr Barnes suggested the fountain be repurposed.
“To me, it is disrespectful if you just knock that down,” he said.
“Surely with the number of creative people in our region someone could put forward a plan to repurpose the structure.
“Let’s not lose a part of our history especially when it honours one of our pioneers.
“I just think there’s a lot of people on the council who have got no idea what that fella was all about.”
According to a news report published last century, about 58 pounds had been raised by Stanthorpe residents shortly after Cr Ferris’ death in 1947 to erect a public memorial in honour of him.
But nothing was done with the money until 1954 when the Warwick Daily News reported a Stanthorpe Shire Council committee had taken “the matter up again and obtained quotes for various types of memorials”.
One of the council’s consulting engineers reportedly suggested at a meeting “that an ornamental fountain might be a good memorial but would probably cost something over £100,” the news report read.
