Perth residents have welcomed the long-awaited opening of two major recreational facilities – the new South Esk River Walkway and the upgraded Train Park, which has been sorely missed.
Northern Midlands Mayor Mary Knowles and Lyons MP Brian Mitchell officially opened the Walkway last Friday, enabling walkers to complete a 3km circuit walk from the town, along the walkway, and back via local streets.
The $375,000 upgrade, jointly funded by the Australian Government and the Council, has included the installation of a suspension footbridge across Will’s Creek, connecting William and George Streets.
It also includes construction of a barbeque facility in the William Street Reserve picnic area.
“This is especially important in town like Perth, whose population is rapidly growing,” Mr Mitchell said.
Perth Local District Committee chair and Perth Community Progress Association president Russell McKenzie said he will be leading a community push next year to further enhance the riverbank, potentially working with Natural Resources Management (NRM) North and the Council to eradicate the weeds and overgrowth and create more access points to the river.
Council representative on the Perth LDC Cr Janet Lambert said she was really pleased with how the walkway project has come up, having first heard the idea mooted years ago.
“I see mums with prams, people walking dogs and many more getting use out of the walkway where before the area was overgrown, unused and there was no connection to get through,” she said.
“There is a future plan for the Williams St Reserve that will further enhance it as a community recreation area.”
The Perth Train Park is also back to full usage with new play equipment installed, new toilets and barbecue facilities, new seating, rubbish bins and landscaping.
While some locals have been frustrated with the amount of time it took to refurbish and there’s been a call for more play equipment to cater for older children, Mr McKenzie said plans are afoot to lobby for more money to be spent on what is a popular play and meeting area.
“What has been done so far is a real success, but there’s a desire to see it become more purposeful and a destination for travellers, so we’re working, in conjunction with the Perth Tasmania Historical Society, on getting some story boards erected that outline the history of Perth and the railway,” Mr McKenzie said.
“We also want to include play equipment for older children and children with disabilities, as well as another undercover area.
“Perth is growing fast – the bypass might mean most cars are going past, but in the town there are actually more people stopping to shop and play and look around.
“Perth Primary is the fastest-growing primary school in the state – there will be more than 300 students there next year compared to Longford at around 270 – the more we do to enhance opportunities for our youth to stay occupied and active the better.”
Also on his radar is the pending decommissioning of the Perth Police Station, which he said would make a great Community Centre.
He also welcomed the decision by Council to adjust Perth’s main street Streetscape Project so that five of the 20 parking spots to be lost in the process would be reinstated.