Can't see the wood for the trees?

By Paul Mullins

A few years back, Gladys Berejiklian's government (bless her heart) were handing out local government grants all over the place for community projects.

Now, Molong didn't score a clay pigeon shooting centre, like Wagga (wonder why?) but did manage to land several million dollars for reactivation/beautification of its main street and environs.

Works were long overdue and sorely needed. They included:

• A paved median strip (level with the road surface);

• A crossing, across from near the street stall, for pedestrians, gophers and walking frames to cross in safety.

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• Removal of the wretched Liquidambar trees on either side of Bank Street, many of which were half dead or "missing" and all of which were wrecking the surface with their roots, infesting the storm water drains and dropping their annual mass of spikey seeds. The type you can, and have, easily rolled your foot on. Also it would better to expose the facades of our quaint, heritage listed buildings (think the Post Office, Robbies Molong Stores in the "upstairs downstairs" or the Picture Theatre)

• Creation of a walkway from next to IGA through to the swimming pool and cleaning up and parkland greening of the remediated old Gasworks site eyesore, including the reinstallation of the restored historical gasometer structure.

New seats and street furniture (maybe some "big pots") were also factored in.

Apart from aesthetic considerations there were longer term practical considerations.

The crossing would create a "traffic calming" measure in an increasingly busy main street. That, and the median, would allow removal of the dreaded double white lines ($300+ every time you cross them). These lines were installed suddenly one night. The police and the RTA could wait for traffic calming no longer.

Removal of the Liquidambars and their evergrowing roots was needed to ease the drainage problem constantly threatening shops. And, there was no hope of installing a fit for purpose drainage system while they remained. A big bonus would be a significant increase in parking spots.

Early last year Cabonne Council (and the Express) published the plans and consulted the community almost to death

But there was one teensy weensy problemette. While the plans included a few new narrow trunked, high foliage trees down the median they suddenly became the subject of derision from locals from all quarters - from the supermarket to the pubs.

I think it's because it may have been felt that "the Council" (not Gladys) was spending millions on trees in the middle of the streetforgetting the other works mentioned above. Now, there might be some real (or unreal) problems with a few trees.

But I have the answer.

For the time being just forget to plant the trees or defer them until the rest is done.

Gladys' grant is tied to the purpose for which it was assessed as worthy and granted. Use it or lose it.

To forego reaping the benefits of the sorely needed works mentioned above, because of some trees, will likely make the next generation look back and say "What were they thinking?"

*excluding