YOUR SAY: Residents of Toowoomba respond to splash park

YOUR SAY: Residents of Australia’s largest inland city without a splash park have responded with frustration, embarrassment, and the practical challenges of the Garden City’s water play facilities, after the mayor hosed down the idea of building one.

YOUR SAY: Toowoomba does not have a water park or a splash park.

As the summer sun blazes, residents of Australia’s largest inland city without a splash park are once again raising questions over why similar-sized councils have waterplay areas, yet Toowoomba has none.

Toowoomba Regional Council mayor Geoff McDonald hosed down the idea saying it would cost ratepayers too much, the response from our readers has been overwhelming.

Some readers have decried the lack of kids activities and the state of the public swimming pools, while others question where all the ratepayers money goes, some have agreed with the mayor saying its not a necessary expense and others pointed out that it isn’t hot enough for long enough.

Here’s what you had to say:

Splash out for the park

“They are going to put heaps of money into fixing a dam that shouldn’t need fixing if it was done right but no splash park for the kids?” Karen Wall wrote.

“Why not upgrade our aquatic facilities? Milne Bay is embarrassing! Council needs to visit Hervey Bay, Palm Beach, Miami etc. Toowoomba needs this,” Maree Antonio wrote.

“As usual, the needs of youngsters are ignored. Want to get them off the streets, give them more to do,” Gayle Miller wrote.

“I really think if there were more for kids to do to keep them better occupied, the crime rate would be lower. There is absolutely nothing to do in this place,” Tanya Jensen said.

“Nothing much for the young to do. Seriously, how many years have people been asking for this,” Kathryn Francisco wrote.

“If Ipswich/ Hervey Bay /Caloundra can have a water park why not us or honour the previous councils project to have water activities along the creek/railway line beautification project which never eventuated when upgrading the railway buildings,” Deb Allen said.

“Toowoomba parks for kids are not great. We went to several today. [..] It’s an embarrassment for this area,” Tanya Elizabeth said.

Waste of cash

“The council is so far in debt, it’s mind boggling. They can’t even afford to keep the parks maintained, let alone a splash park,” Cameron Zell said.

“We all want want want … Council isn’t just about Toowoomba anymore. It takes in a broad range of communities (Millmerran to Oakey to Highfields) and has to maintain the best interests of all those people,” Stephen Merrell said.

“Brain dead idea, just let it be. It’s fecking freezing here in winter. Wouldn’t get used,” Andrew Wills said.