Media Release

Wednesday, 4 November 2009

Swan Hill's Community Planning process continues to see a number of community members putting forward their suggestions towards making the city perfect, including three-year old Jett, who at a recent barbecue held in conjunction with the Swan Hill Police at George Lay Park, told Council's Community Planning Officer during discussion time to “please get rid of the prickles”.

At next week's Community Planning Meetings the community, including Jett, will be asked to identify and prioritise a number of initiatives for the City of Swan Hill Community Plan, including, if agreed to by the majority of the people at the meeting, residential parks.

Council's Works Manager Dallas Free said it was great to hear young people and children taking an interest in their residential parks.

“The works team spends a considerable amount of time trying to ensure our parks are accessible for our community, including continually monitoring and regular spraying of weeds in parks and recreation reserves,” he said.

“The team also ensure our parks are kept clean by picking up rubbish - especially broken glass.”

Further issues raised about municipal parks included inadequate lighting, incorrect disposal of rubbish and glass bottles and the need for more park furniture, trees, paths and play equipment.

Landscaping and grassed areas were also ideas suggested to improve the parks.

Local teenager Deon Lever said he would like to see residents participate in a Tidy Town's or similar project to encourage community pride and ownership of the parks.

“A project like this might even promote users of the park to dispose of their rubbish in an appropriate way,” he said.

Swan Hill Police Service Area Manager Inspector Garry Bennett said the parks were very important for the community.

“The Swan Hill Police are willing to support the community and Council on projects identified in the City of Swan Hill Community Plan which promote health and safety for families and individuals,” he said.

Swan Hill Rural City Mayor Cr Greg Cruickshank said it was great to hear the community already putting forward their ideas for the Community Planning process, in particular about taking pride in the town.

“Taking pride in our city is also about working together as a community to keep our city looking its best,” Cr Cruickshank said.

“To hear a community member, especially a young person, take an interest and pride in their city is simply terrific and the community planning process is a great way to listen to our community about how we can further take pride in our surroundings.

“I would also like to thank Jett for his thoughts – it's exactly the type of thing we want to hear and I agree with him – let's get all the prickles out of the parks!”

The Community Planning meetings will be held in the Swan Hill Town Hall on Tuesday, 10 November at 10.30 am, Wednesday, 11 November at 2.00 pm and Thursday, 12 November at 7.00 pm.