SOLUTIONS to the controversial problems surrounding Calembeen Park and its “rotten eyesore” of a dive tower may soon be on the table.
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It’s a great park. The idea is we want to bring families back there.
- Don Henderson, Creswick ward councillor
Hepburn Shire Council Creswick ward councillor Don Henderson has confirmed consultations have begun with Friends of Calembeen Park and the Creswick Residents Association about the dive tower, which has been left to decay for some time and is not safe for public use.
The council has put aside $104,000 to rehabilitate the tower, money which was originally intended for its demolition. The demolition did not go ahead following a ruling from Heritage Victoria that the 1960s tower had heritage value.
Since then, the tower has been surrounded by barbed wire as it has rotten boards, potentially lead paint, and is not safe to use.
The council also has $30,000 put aside to explore swimming options in Creswick, including potentially at Calembeen Park.
Cr Henderson said the council was seeking pricing to fix the tower from a range of providers.
“It’s a great park. The idea is we want to bring families back there,” he said.
He said the entire community would get a chance to have their say on what they thought was best to “enhance the use of the entire park”.
Campaigner Ken Kronberger had previously described the tower as a rotten eyesore, but said any junk that was in the park was the “council’s junk” and caused by its lack of action in maintaining the fixture.
The tower is not the only controversy currently plaguing Calembeen Park. The council recently approved a $30,000 sculpture of a cup and ball by Inverleigh artist Mark Cuthbertson following recommendations from its Public Art Panel, which infamously did not consult with the Creswick community before commissioning the work.
Cr Henderson said a planning application for the sculpture had been lodged with Heritage Victoria, with council waiting for approval before the artist could begin work.