Throsby was slated for a $29 million Home of Football development. We all saw it coming, but that promise has been widthdrawn. Last election, many residents of Throsby were fighting to save the site advertised as bringing local shops, but our calls to the Ministers to engage went unanswered. Let me know what’s important to you in the comments below or reach out directly.
I’ve started hearing some of the things that are bothering Throsby so far, but I need to hear more. Please reach out online and let me know, or find me at a campaign stall near you!
Local shops
One of the reasons it is harder to engage with Throsby is because there are no Throsby shops. Contrary to the SLA’s advertising material when you bought blocks and built homes, that site became townhouses.
Not everyone wanted local shops and that is fine. Unfortunately, regardless of the many people who did, the government didn’t stop and listen. Now that the Home of Football has been cancelled, there is another opportunity to have an honest and open conversation about what Throsby needs now and in to the future.
District Playing Fields
Now that the Home of Football has been cancelled, the government is proposing to build the fields and a pavilion but has scaled the project back. It’s unclear what they have cut. They are saying this will cost them the same to build just the District Playing Fields as it would cost them to build the entire Home of Football, so I’d like to see where that money is going.
District playing fields are a good consolation prize. Now we must make sure whatever is delivered meets community requirements and expectations. An independent crossbench can hold the government to account and make sure they deliver as promised. What do you feel should be delivered at the district playing fields?
Some current suggestions are all about “making it a place worth going to”, and include:
- A dog park
- Toilets
- A Cafe or pub
- A postbox
- An IGA or convenience store
Joey Park
Joey park seems a good little playground, however a popular request is to add public toilets. Concerns have also been raised about traffic near the park, with some people suggesting traffic calming measures or possibly a pedestrian crossing.