As we approach the end of 2018 it is probably the ideal time to look back on what was achieved in our community during the past 12 months.
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Well for one thing our parks have had and are going to have millions spent on them. On Friday the $2.8 million Riverside Park was officially opened.
Featuring what can only be described as some pretty fancy play equipment and a cafe, the park is a vast improvement, to the vacant car yard lots that it replaced.
The northern end of John Street needed a fillip and the park is a good start to its revitalisation. Hopefully the former Sutton car yard across the road which is currently owned by Singleton Council, but being offered for lease/sale, will undergone a similar rejuvenation and bring some extra sparkle back to that end of town.
Parks are a fabulous civic assets and any new park or improvements to exiting ones is most welcomed. The more our populace is outside and exercising the better – and in exercising we also include the exercise of social interaction.
Also announced this week was the funding for the Art & Cultural Centre to be located in Townhead Park. The $2.78m from the NSW Government is vital for this project to go ahead as it covers 80 per cent of the estimated final costs.
Singleton has lacked such a facility for many years as evidenced by the community’s push for one to be built.
The upgrade to Townhead Park will now include this space – somewhere to hang our artworks apart from the library and Council building and provide a smaller space than the Civic Centre for many a cultural and artistic event.
Like parks arts and culture are vital for the wellbeing of any civil society. They foster connections and inspiration and new ideas as well as providing education on many levels.
Now onto the planning failure for 2018.
That is the approval of the 24 hours, seven days a week service station at the intersection of Bridgman Road and the New England Highway.
We understand motorists are keen to have a fuel outlet on that side of town and on that side of the highway. But why not locate the outlet opposite the existing one at McDougalls Hill. That would mean it did not impact a floodplain and an already terribly congested intersection.