Parking Day at Paddington Green Precinct

What a great sight this morning as people chatted over coffee, reclaiming some road space for people.

Bliss Ecowear and Sol Breads organic cafe set up parks opposite each other on Latrobe Terrace, the epicentre of the Paddington Green Precinct! We were just two of hundreds of parks taking place across Brisbane and the world as part of the movement that began in 2005 in San Francisco.  Sol Breads and the street were buzzing with people drawn to the community created by the parks.

Brisbane PARK(ing) Day is all about –

1. Calling attention to the importance for urban public spaces
2. Rethinking the way we use our streets
3. Creating diverse conversations about how we can make sustainable cities

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Yes we should pay to drive on Cooloola Coast

As reported in The Courier-Mail today, the Queensland Government has released for consultation a management plan for the Cooloola Coast north of Noosa to Double Island Point and around to Rainbow Beach.

Our family loves this area, so I declare a vested interest, but also some first hand experience of the people that are damaging this environment and threatening the safety of others.

It is proposed to charge people to drive and camp in the area, just like you have to pay for a permit to visit some National Parks. At the moment, it is used and abused as though it is a highway and a fun zone. A proper management plan is long overdue because this area adjoins the Great Sandy National Park and the World Heritage Fraser Island area. It has equal environmental value and beauty.

We take great enjoyment from driving along the beach to swim at Double Island Point and walk up to the lighthouse to look for whales - although we do it with some guilt about the incongruity of driving a polluting 4WD through a pristine environment. So we try to drive and visit with respect for the privilege we have been given.

Paying for access will also allow facilities to be built to accommodate 46,000 car loads of people a year -- for example, there is only one set of toilets in this huge area at Freshwater.

Link to The Courier-Mail article

Have your say by 7 September 2009 Go to the Queensland Government website for info on the Cooloola Recreation Area plan and how you can make a submission.

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life is like riding a bicycle - in order to keep your balance,
you must keep moving. - albert einstein

when I see an adult on a bicycle, i do not despair for
the future of the human race. - h. g. wells
(quoted around the "golden age of the bicycle" 1890-1905)

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