Editorial: Darling Downs residents deserve to be heard after years of asking for a water park

OUR SAY: For years, Darling Downs residents have been asking for a place to take their children during the hot months, and for years, it has gone unanswered. Maybe Council should listen now.

Like many of you, I grew up on the Downs. I have seen the blistering droughts and the flooding rains. And for as long as I can remember, there has always been a discussion around the feasibility of a water park.

But year after year, heatwave after heatwave, the community’s cries go unanswered.

While there are rather understandable arguments around water security and vandals, the argument tends to fall on deaf ears when you see other towns succeed.

How can you say it is not possible when towns in Outback Australia have found success through splash parks?

Surely you can’t believe Toowoomba is the only town to face vandals, so instead of dismissing it, why not look and learn from those councils who have succeeded.

After years of unanswered calls from the community, I reached out to each councillor who has been elected to be our voice.

A majority supported the idea of a waterpark.

So if a majority support it, and these are the people we have elected into power, then why are they not moving on it? This is not a sudden request, and while I understand there are urgent upgrades that need attention, they can’t always use that as an excuse.

There will always be things that need to be done across the region, but when will the people we elect start listening to the community and take realistic steps for change that is wanted by families, businesses and tourism operators alike?

A deadline of 20 to 30 years is too far away to be a promise.