Friends of Cooee Park with Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall recently. Back row, left, George Whitton, Roy Haines, Alan Lomas, Elton Boney. Front, Mavis Knox, Wendy Craigie, Adam Marshall, Geraldine Boney.
Wednesday, 28 November 2018
SOUTH Moree often gets a bad wrap, but Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall says in the midst of this there is an amazing, inspirational group of local residents who are determined to claim back their park, their place – Cooee Park – and he has announced a $10,000 State Government grant to help them out.
Mr Marshall said the funding, for Moree Plains Shire Council, will turn a burr-infested space into a playable play space for residents and neighbours of the south side of the town.
“This funding will allow the Friends of Cooee Park to work with council to top dress the park and re-seed it with grass to make it a safe and enjoyable place for the community to get together and have some fun,” Mr Marshall said.
“In the last few months, the locals around the park have been busy planting trees, watering and caring for them, keeping a close watch on their park and working with Moree Plains Shire Council to undertake further improvements.
“I reckon this is what community spirit is all about and I’m delighted council has come on board to help out and assist the community rebuild its local pride.”
The park surface was pretty patchy before the most recent rain and nothing much was growing other than burrs.
“There’s a real strong bond of collaboration between a number of groups who support this project, including the South West Moree Place project team, a Friends of Cooee Park group and the local council, and they’re all giving a hand to it,” Mr Marshall said.
“The first priority is a weed chipping day hopefully before Christmas and with some help from Community Service Order participants who have undertaken TAFE certificate training course in horticulture.
“Those participants are also going to help in the work to level the soil, seed it heavily and replace the top soil, so we can get a good grass cover happening.
“We are seeing some really constructive work now in redeveloping this Cooee Park as a park for south-west Moree and a place where kids can take off their shoes and run around and where families can gather for social interaction and recreational fun.”
Mr Marshall said the latest funding would build on a $50,000 grant he announced two years ago, which allowed for fencing, cement seating, barbecue facilities and a water tap to be installed in the park.
“The development of Cooee is part of the council strategy to reinvigorate south Moree and I’m a keen supporter of that concept,” Mr Marshall said.
“I’m pleased to see that the community group Friends of Cooee Park has been so active and inspirational, not just in coming up with ideas, but also in getting their hands dirty too.”