Local Parks Trust Cash Grab
20 March, 2007
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Dutton Park Ward Councillor Helen Abrahams is dismayed at the Lord Mayor’s proposal to strip $7 million from local Councillors to create a central pool for park improvements.
Currently, developments in each Ward contribute funds for parkland and park improvements. The funds are located in a Ward Parks Trust Fund for each Ward to ensure that the funds are spent on local improvements.
“These are significant funds in the Dutton Park Ward Parks Trust Fund as West End and South Brisbane are developing.
“I have all of the funds in the Dutton Park Ward Trust Fund accounted for.
“There are at least 13 projects on the books for Dutton Park Ward that are yet to receive project numbers which would included them on the Approved Work in Progress register. The projects include:
· new toilets for Musgrave Park, Robinson Park, Yeronga Memorial Park and Lyons Park
· lighting for Yeronga Memorial Park
· the extension to the skate park at Home Street, Fairfield
· an upgrade to the Indigenous Sorry Day site at Hill End
· a contribution to land acquisition for the extension of Davies Park.
“These projects represent very necessary infrastructure in local parks in Dutton Park ward,” Cr Abrahams said.
“Park contribution from development in Dutton Park Ward currently goes into the Dutton Park Ward Trust Fund,” Councillor Abrahams said.
“The local community feels the impact of new development, such as more traffic in local streets and more people using the existing parkland.
“It is important that the funds are spent locally to provide the playground equipment for the growing local community,” she said.
“Instead of this trusted and true way for improving local parks where development takes place, the Lord Mayor would use the funds as a substitute for funding parks from general revenue.”