14.5.2024 Kowrowa Children's Playground

The first thing that came to mind when we took a look at the playground in Kowrowa was the word ‘prison’, that’s what it reminded us of – prison bars.
Go back in time and think to yourself; ‘When I was a 4-13 year old, is there ANYTHING that would encourage me to want to ‘play’ in this playground?
We’d be surprised if the answer wasn’t a firm no and if it was a ‘yes’ we’re pretty sure you’d be bored with it after a short period of time...
No shade, no undercover seating, no drinking fountain and some very ordinary play equipment wouldn’t you say?
Imagine how hot this would be when the sun is shining on it?
No swings, nothing they can really climb, no slippery dip not much of anything that would entice children to spend time on ‘it’ playing, wouldn’t you say?
Compare it to the recently installed playground in Centenary Park or other playgrounds in the Shire…
We wonder if Mareeba Shire Council have ANY plans for the updating of this playground…

How many children live west of Mantaka?

We’d like to see this play ground completely replaced with all of the above and maybe even a BBQ - something that will encourage more children to use the playground and more families to use this open public space in Kowrowa.
I’m sure someone out there would keep it clean. TRACQS run programs out at the hall each week...
For any community to make the most of their parks, gardens and open spaces, the Council needs to make people want to use them by providing the facilities the community want to use.
One of the key words we’ve been hearing from the Council these past couple of years is ‘live-ability’.

Actions speak louder than words.

Would Kuranda fair better if Mareeba Shire Council employed a designated Grants Officer, or reevaluated one of their current staff members roles, solely for the purpose of identifying and obtaining grants that will benefit Kuranda, Speewah and Koah?
A reminder that the last time the Kuranda Community Precinct Advisory Committee met was over 5 years ago… just what IS going on?
It seems to us that Kuranda and its infrastructure are missing out because the vast majority of grant and grant money is being spent elsewhere in the Shire?

As always we’re happy to be proven wrong.