Subject: Nowra Beautification
Riche du Plessis has
been a resident of Nowra and the northern Shoalhaven for most
of the past twenty-five years ... since the year 2000, he has
operated a business in the Nowra CBD:
"During
this time the atmosphere of Nowra has often confused me. Understanding
that the town is the service centre of the district, it offers
little more than that - a centre providing for the basic
needs of the local population, a town centre stuck in the middle
of the 1950's.
At peak periods, such as Easter, while the outlying villages of
Berry, the Valley, Huskisson fill with tourists, most of Nowra
(other than the supermarkets and a coffee shop or two) closes.
It's as though the town does not want to adapt to the 21st century."
It is also obvious to any observer that a significent percentage
of the local population seem intent on destroying any work intended
to beautify the town, or which makes the CBD more user
friendly. The continuing difficulties with the pedestrianised
Junction Mall, the tree'd area alongside Woolworths
Car Park, the public toilets, unwanted graffiti, provide
continued evidence of this destructive attitude. It is obvious
that this element of our society has little or no 'pride of place'
regarding Nowra.
At a recent meeting of the Shoalhaven Business Chamber it was
suggested that the Nowra CBD needs revitalization in order to
encourage residents and visitors into the town centre at
peak periods. Two outcomes from that meeting were :
(i) a resolve
to beautify the CBD, (ii) to form a committee to work with the
SCC Strategic Planning Office. Both are excellent suggestions.
However,
should an invisible 'Strategic Planning Committee' decide
on the methods, materials and design of any beautification behind
closed doors, a large segment of our society will still not value
such work. Without participation in the decision from the greater
community, any 'pride of place' is unlikely to develop. { NEXT }