Caloundra Council considers plans
Fri 19 May 2006
Amy Taylor, Journalism
Caloundra City Council is considering plans for a $1.3 million information and interpretive centre at Settlers Ridge Rotary Park in the Glass House Mountains.
Councillors are currently reviewing a copy of the plan, which was released in late March, before a final decision is made in the June budget, Caloundra City Councillor Anna Grosskreutz said.
Cr Grosskreutz has had key involvement in the plan’s development, which has been over two years in the making.
The proposed plan is an eco-friendly design, reflecting the former tobacco industry ‘drying shed,’ which Cr Grosskreutz said aimed to compliment the beautiful surrounds of the Glass House area.
“A large water feature will be made because a fair amount of the site is under the Q100 (flood line). A deck will overlook the water feature, which will fulfil a range of things – beautiful scenery and water catchment, while also encouraging wildlife into the area,” she said.
“The park has already been planted with native local species and we’ll have water-tanks there too. We’ll run off town water but the tanks will supplement it.”
Cr Grosskreutz said the eco-friendly design meant the cost for the centre had risen but it was important the design fit in with the small town’s natural beauty.
“We could have put a demountable in but it would have looked terrible and devalued the park,” she said.
Caloundra City Councillor Andrew Champion said although he strongly supported tourism in the area he thought the cost was “extravagant”.
“I supported the tourism information centre we put in at Jessica Park in Minyama. We spent $80,000 on that one. The issue I have with Glass House is they’re going from a caravan to a building worth over a million dollars – it’s a significant jump and a very large amount of money to spend on a small community building.”
Cr Champion said although the centre at Jessica Park looked like a tin shed, it served its purpose.
“If the ask was for $200,000 I’d still be asking ‘why is it twice what Jessica Park cost?’ I’d say she (Cr Grosskreutz) should go back to the drawing board and reduce the scope of her plans and come up with something the community can afford.”
Cr Grosskreutz said if councillors supported the plan Queensland Parks and Wildlife would commit $140,000 on the condition their employees could work from the centre. She said a funding proposal had been sent to the Federal Government, the rest of the funds were being sought from council.
If approved, the centre would replace the run-down caravan which is manned by volunteers.
“The caravan was second-hand when we got it four years ago … we obtained a small amount of funding from the Federal Government and council contributed in-kind support. The van is now on its way out and a health and safety risk. We originally got the van to test the waters… to prove to council the centre was needed. At the moment there are 1000 visitors a month and growing,” Cr Grosskreutz said.
Jenny Morris has volunteered at the caravan for about 18 months. She said she thought the new centre would be “flat out better than what we have here.”
“A lot of the people volunteering prefer the set up here though, mainly because of the atmosphere I think.”
Glass House Mountains National Park Ranger in Charge Norm Taylor said the plan was well sited and issues such as parking had been considered.
“We anticipate the centre will have a positive impact, it will provide us with the access to inform and educate people,” he said.
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