The new playground in Maude St — where's the shade?
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The other day Ernesto had a look at the new multi-million-dollar makeover of the Maude St ‘Mall’ in Shepparton and was a little disappointed in some aspects of the outcome.
Firstly, in an age of everyone being urged to be sun smart, the children’s playground has no shade sail. Surely anyone planning a playground these days would have to consider this issue.
While on the subject of the sun, remember the concept of ‘Shepparton the Solar City’ from the late 1980s?
The Maude St Mall was built around that time and incorporated a sundial beneath the Telstra communications tower in Stewart St. Like it or hate it, the sundial fitted with the Solar City concept of the time and it beggars belief that millions could be spent on the refurbishment of Maude St while leaving the sundial in disrepair.
The original pavement from the old mall is still in place along all the shop fronts in Maude St and in many cases has poor makeshift patch-up jobs, and is in disrepair in contrast to the new pavements laid over the rest of the street.
Finally, the traders and property owners have been agitating for years for the mall to be revitalised.
Now it has been done, surely it is incumbent on the traders and property owners to do their bit to make the place inviting.
Falling apart: A decaying verandah post outside Harris Scarfe.
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Needs work: The shabby facade outside The Deck.
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Trip hazard: One of the marble sculptures along the new ‘mall’.
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Out in the open: The new playground in Maude St — where's the shade?
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Left in the shade: The sundial in Stewart St. Repair it or remove it!
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Watch out: Contrasting old and new pavements, highlighting shabby repairs.
The facade of the Harris Scarfe building is a case in point, as is the condition of the tiles on the Tower Arcade floor.
Surely it is in these businesses’ interest to make the refurbished ‘mall’ an attractive and desirable place for the public.
Finally, what is the purpose of all the round balls scattered around the development?
Certainly the shin-high one at the pedestrian crossing to the Aussie Hotel is a tripping hazard to those of low or impaired vision, and could in theory trip someone in front of a car travelling along Fryers St.
After the disruptions due to COVID-19 restrictions and construction, surely Greater Shepparton City Council, landlords and traders could come together and make the Maude St redevelopment something for the people of the Goulburn Valley to be proud of.
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