Dalby community to host first in person get together over TJ Park development.

Members of the We Love Thomas Jack Park Facebook group will host a meeting tomorrow for community members to get together and discuss their thoughts on the proposed cultural centre.

A local community group fighting against a controversial cultural centre being built in Thomas jack park will host a get together at the site on Saturday afternoon.

Organisers of the We Love Thomas Jack Park Facebook group said they were hosting the first face-to-face get together at 1pm on Saturday to allow community members to express their thoughts on the proposed centre in a laid back environment.

The proposed cultural centre development has created a firestorm of controversy among community members throughout the past several months after the Western Downs Regional Council approved Thomas Jack Park as the preferred location for the centre.

At last month’s council meeting a petition to reconsider the site of the future cultural hub signed by more than 5000 residents was presented to council leading to a vote to take more time to review the location and budget of the future cultural hub.

The motion to review the site, put forward by councillor George Moore, narrowly passed five votes to four with councillors Peter Saxelby and all three new councillors, Sophie Bougoure, Sam Condon and Greg Olm voting in favour. 

Organisers encouraged families to bring a picnic and enjoy a day in the sun with other members of the Dalby community.

“We are just have a little group of people that are coming from an angle of finding out where we are at with the park,” a group member who preferred to remain unnamed said.

“We are trying to reach out to community to get feedback and find out what they have heard about it, there seems to be so many people who haven’t been told all of the details and the only people who know about it are those on social media.”

The organiser said the gathering wasn't a protest but more of a community information day.

“This is the first time the community has gathered, It’s just a low key event, it’s not a rally,” they said.

“We aren’t wanting to create a stir or fuss, it’s just an opportunity talk to other people and share what you love about the park, its history and wildlife.

“The weather will be beautiful so come enjoy the space, it will be a feel good day to get together with people passionate about keeping the green space.”

The group, which presented the petition to council said they now wanted to hear from the community.

“We want to gather people together to talk about their feelings, we think probably 80 per cent don’t support it, the biggest feedback we’ve had is that people love the green space and want to protect the park,” they said.

“This is the biggest issue I’ve ever seen in Dalby, I've been here all my life and I’ve never seen something like this.”

The get together starts at 1pm near the barbecues off of Bunya Street.

Originally published as Dalby community to host first in person get together over TJ Park development.