In “Son fears loss of father’s legacy” (The Border Mail, January 15) Bill Richardson says he’s far from satisfied with Wodonga Council’s plans to rezone Richardson Park for commercial redevelopment.
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He wants the land encompassing the Stanley Street pool, the old police station and court house, returned to public open space.
The council is competent to notify the Department of Planning it does not want to proceed with the rezoning proposal.
It happened before when the jack-hammers of public wrath broke the “set in concrete” council decision to build an aquatic centre in Willow Park.
An enlarged Richardson Park’s central location would be a priceless asset.
It would be the only safe refuge in the central business district during emergencies; ideal for city events because Woodland Grove and Stanley Street are too confined and cluttered and disruptive to traffic; a traveller’s rest, a meeting place and somewhere to refresh the soul.
Albury Council is spending thousands enlarging its town square.
Wodonga hasn’t even got one!
At the council’s December meeting the present remnant Richardson Park was described as being “under-utilised”.
Of course it’s under-utilised! Look at it!
It’s sterile, uninviting, is named a car park, has one lonely picnic table and a rubbish bin, and its sad trees can never be beautiful because they’re not suited to the place.
It is not a park, it is a disgrace and an insult to the Richardson family it is named to honour.
With a few picnic tables, garden seats, some colourful Australian flowering shrubs and a safe area with a sandpit and a couple of pipes for our little people to play in, it would come alive and help revitalise our ailing shopping centre.
Our councillors appreciate the public’s opinions and guidance.
If you favour a central open park, write a letter.
— JEAN WHITLA,
Wodonga
