THE main highway leading into Port Macquarie may soon have a much needed spruce up – thanks to a local politician.
Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams has intervened to ensure Oxley Highway roundabouts and verges get some TLC, following a letter in the Independent complaining about maintenance.
“This area of the highway does need some attention and after reading the letter in the Independent, I contacted the regional manager of the Roads and Maritime Services,” Ms Williams said.
“Pleasingly, RMS will now undertake a program to tidy up the Oxley Highway Gateway into Port Macquarie.
“I believe it is important that first impressions are lasting ones and with a bit of TLC the entrance into Port Macquarie will again be a welcoming sight.”
Appropriately called Welcome to Weedsville, the letter from Raymond McDonald of Port Macquarie was published in the 20 March issue of the Independent and critiqued the approach to town from a tourist’s point of view.
“You are a little excited,” Mr McDonald wrote. “You have read all the brochures telling you how beautiful of a town Port is, so you are eager to feast your eyes on the splendour that is coming up to meet you.
“As you make the turn at the donut you see the magnificent sculpture at the hub roundabout. ’Wow,’ you think. But you cast your eyes over the green plants on the islands. You expect to see lush green plants, but to your horror your expectations are blown away as you see nothing but dead brown reeds and unsightly weeds.”
Mr McDonald went on at length to comment on the “ugly grey-painted Wall of China” with dead or dying plants at its base.
“The only really healthy plants you see are a couple of sheoaks growing wild right next to the curb,” Mr McDonald said.
He said to allow this slum dog attitude with the gardens at the two main entrances to Port Macquarie was outrageous and lazy.
The Independent asked Port Macquarie-Hastings Council for comment, and was told the Oxley Highway was a State Government responsibility. State Government MP Leslie Williams was subsequently approached and provided the above comments.
However, the weeds issue appears to be spreading to include other areas which are within the council’s jurisdiction.
In another letter in the Independent this week (see No need for weeds, P8), Kate Bennett of Port Macquarie agrees with Mr McDonald and also complains about Town Beach.
“I agree someone has mowed parts of the overgrown walkways – but without the use of a whipper-snipper?!” Ms Bennett writes.
“By now these tourists have probably packed up and moved on to somewhere less weedy. Come on whoever is responsible for parks and gardens of Port Macquarie, get your act together!”
Ms Bennett also complained about Town Beach in the letter Change for the worse (Independent, 6 March).
The council has yet to comment on Ms Bennett’s complaint.