A recent article in the Manning River Times along with a photo of Mayor West highlighted an announcement of a 'makeover' for Manning Street, Taree.
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On the surface the citizens may applaud this beautification news.
However, I am prompted to reply to the tired and sorry appearance of the Taree township that has been neglected for several years in reference to streets, public buildings and greenspace areas.
After numerous emails over some months to the executive assistant to the mayor and a request to meet with the general manager, no meeting has taken place. The executive assistant has been courteous and prompt with replies (thank you) and also advised a works engineer would also phone me. Nil phone call after almost three months.
Driving off the Martin Bridge west to the hospital, north to the Manning Entertainment Centre at Chatham and most thoroughfares in the built-up residential of my town, the median strips, roundabouts and kerb and gutter are littered with weeds in abundance.
A sapling tree half a metre tall was recently removed from a roundabout. Sheer neglect and this is also raising comments on Facebook. Surely the mayor, councillors, council staff and citizens would observe the unsightly appearance of my and their town.... and still no action. Not to mention visitors/tourists with a poor impression of the 'gateway to the Manning'.
An example of neglect is the roundabout, corner of Wynter and Manning Streets, with bumps and hollows, that has been in this condition for five years to my knowledge. The bitumen approach to the main railway crossing in High Street and Macquarie Street is years overdue for repair.
Health and hygiene in a public toilet with inoperative hand air-dryers. The State Minister for Local Government was advised of this mid-COVID and yippee, two dryers were replaced some months later.
Citizens walking Queen Elizabeth Park shake their heads in dismay with signage covered in grime, half finished ground maintenance and my observation of food and drink stains on a picnic table - time line, 11 calendar months without any cleaning.
Dead trees in Bicentennial Park are marked for removal but stand there forgotten. Recent wind gusts have blown over two trees... imagine litigation with human injury.
I offer a residential tour of shame to the GM and Mayor. The fuel cost is on me!!
Visits by myself and other local residents speak highly of appearance of other regional towns in comparison.
This is the tip of the iceberg, just Taree, no other towns or villages mentioned.
