‘Please clean up our park’

Adam Mathieson with his children Georgina, 4, Henley, 7 months, and Cindy the dog at Palmwoods’ Kolora Park... “My argument has always been that this is the first and last part of town that you see as you come in to Palmwoods and as you leave Palmwoods.”

A Palmwoods father is maintaining pressure on authorities for a rejuvenation of neglected Kolora Park.

Resident of 10 years Adam Mathieson began voicing his concerns for the once-popular family destination last year.

He said last week there were positive signs with some work progressing but more needed to be done to bring it back to its former glory.

“We’ve had several meetings with council and council representatives,” Mr Mathieson said. “The most recent one was last week with our new councillor, which has been very promising.

“Since Winston (Div 5 Cr Winston Johnston) came into the role, there’s been a number of things that have started to take effect around here, which is great.

“This park was run down like you wouldn’t believe.”

Recently the park has been pressure washed and some painting, garden and signage works completed.   

But the issue was complex with Council, State Government and Queensland Rail involved. “And they don’t talk,” Mr Mathieson said.  

He said residents wanted improved access to the park, improved facilities and removal of salvinia weed from the lake and a nearby bat colony from surrounding trees. 

“For me and my kids to come down here today I had to walk through all the bat poo.  It’s horrible. My daughter says it stinks.

“At the moment there is no access for disabled people or even elderly people to get into the park. They can drive but we’ve got no footpath access. So to get from the town centre, to this park, now you’ve got to walk across Chevallum Road which is as busy as anything.” 

Cr Johnston reassured residents he would continue working with community members to improve the park. 

“It’s its one of the most important parks in the Palmwoods area,” he said. 

“I’m working to get the park designation upgraded to a higher level to ensure that it becomes something the whole community can again be proud of.”

He said $623,000 had been allocated in Council’s Budget for the Kolora Park Sediment Basin Storm Water Quality Management Project. “If you’re going to spend major work you’ve got to get it into the budget. And it’s in the budget.

“The purpose is to control excessive sediment flowing into the existing ponded area. We have to control the flow of sediment into the pond, before we can do works to improve the lake and other associated works.

“But there will be continued works in the areas over the next 12 months to improve the facilities and the look of the park and walkways. 

“As far as flying foxes are concerned it’s a recognised problem. There are State Government controls on councils attempting to move flying fox populations out of an area. So that’s a work in progress.”

Mr Mathieson has emails of support from at least a dozen residents on his side of town who have lived in this area for over 20 years.

“Some of them have lived in the area for over 40,” he said. “They’ve said they’ve never see the park get to the state it’s in now.

“This park used to be fantastic. They used to have weddings in the garden and people would come across for photographs in the rotunda. Now there’s nothing. 

“Some days you’ll come down here and there are itinerants in the park, that have caught the train, asleep in the rotunda or using the toilet facilities. That’s not what we want.”

A mat of salvinia weed choking up the lake was also an unsightly issue.

“The lake needs a good cleanout. Obviously dredging of some sort is going to have to be done. There’s two and a half meters of silt in there.”  

Mr Mathieson said council would be wise to consult the community before pushing ahead with any plans for the park.

“That rotunda down there cost $47,000. And they boasted about it!” he said.

“That’s a waste of money. I can build that for $10,000 materials and labour. So to spend $47,000, on something I could build for $10,000, when you’ve got playground equipment that is 20 years old. It’s just a misdirection of funds by Council.”

Mr Mathieson, who has a background in business management and project management, provided a breakdown of what he thought the project should have cost:

 Materials - $2000

 Table - $1000, 

 Sandstone blocks - $1000. 

 Removal of the old structure- $1000

 Labour (3 days 4 staff) - $5000.

“In all the job should have costs $10k. Not $47k as council proudly boasted,” Mr Mathieson said.  

History & Background

• The lagoon was described on early survey maps as a permanent waterhole within a reserve for camping and railway purposes. It was regarded as a pure water source for steam trains on their scheduled water stops at the Palmwoods Station. The lagoon is home to many families of ducks – hence the local name “Palmwoods Duck Ponds”. In 1970, the park was named “Kolora”: an Aboriginal word meaning “freshwater lagoon”. Over the years, the park area was improved and extended and was one of the key attractions of the Palmwoods township.