2009 Tidy Towns
31 Oct 09
FLIGHTS OF FANCY AT COOLAH TIP
2009 Tidy Towns Sustainable Communities Program Packaging Stewardship Forum
Waste Management & Litter Reduction Award, population category B (351-1200)
Winner Coolah CoolART Waste to Art project at Coolah Tip.
At the official opening on 16th April, 2009, Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton, MP, thought the agenda item "Scenic walk of the Tip and sights" at Coolah was a bit of a joke - until he arrived and saw what Coolah is doing for the environment.
At the entrance is the Dragon Fly by architectural blacksmith David Sherlock urging us to Think before you Throw. A poem by Albert Scott "Chatting at the Tip" is now truer than ever - the sculptures have everyone talking!
To raise awareness of the importance of recycling and sorting waste for transfer to Coonabarabran, Warrumbungle Shire Council has fully endorsed the initiatives of Coolah District Development Group to smarten up the tip. The Coolah Waste Transfer Station has transformed the tip and the way residents dispose of waste.
Community groups and imaginative artisans have all done their part making sculptures from waste - Men's Shed who undertake Drum Muster on a monthly basis, constructed a Rubik's Cube from plastic drums.
Central School have a Canman, Preschoolers a colourful sign decorated with plastic lids to "Recycle" and a stork by Paul Flint urges us to separate our rubbish.
A Transformer by David Pilcher received People's Choice award
and the tree also from Men's Shed indicates the area into which to direct green waste. Tyre pyramid from Coolah Tyre Service occupies the centre drive around.
The results in smartening up the tip and raising awareness of recycling will hugely benefit the citizens of Coolah in doing their part for the environment, and the bottom line for Warrumbungle Shire Council.
The Tidy Towns award announced on 31st October 2009 follows the very prestigious Community of the Year Award 2007 acknowledging a decade of self improvement by the Coolah community. Mainstreet Beautification, Bowen Oval Playground and the Shire Hall Redevelopment Project have brought immense benefits to residents of Coolah and travellers along the busy Black Stump Way. The hall redevelopment encompasses the Pandora Gallery and Visitors Centre, Library and Internet services (Bruce Rindfleish Centre) and Hive Live fitness centre.
Other community projects include almost completed-to-opening Men's Shed and a Cycleway Project, encompassing bike and fitness track, railway heritage and riverside recreational area.
Coolah may appear a quiet backwater known for its Black Stump, Coolah Tops National Park and various annual events including Campdraft, Veterans Touch Footy, Rockn' at the Racecourse and Hartwood Country Music, but underneath the still waters is a powerhouse of community endeavour.
"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see" Edgar Degas