There's a HOLE in Your BUCKET, Dear CITY

There’s a hole in the bucket[s], dear Albury City.

With what shall you fix it?

Albury City Council owns an old derelict waterwheel down near the river. [Actually the Council is in charge of, and responsible for, this component of Albury City fabric.] People noting the news might be forgiven for thinking that some dramatic change took place in Council a week ago and the anti-heritage Philistines were finally defeated.

The staff report to the Committee told the story. But, it seems the recommendation provided a catalyst for something, after many years of astonishing ignorance. Maybe councillors very rarely venture into the remote area on the boundary of the City? One councillor even thinks the park still is at the southern entry point to the City. [It was, once, before the ‘Internal’ thing.]

If you are wondering about the waterwheel, it represents an important feature of  gold days life in other places in the region. I found some reading from Victoria about the regional stuff [see below].

With what shall you fix it?

Why, stuff it with money, dear City.

Whose money is that?

You know, dear City, whose money to use.

Nonetheless, it would be a nice gesture if Albury Council could restore the item to rights, then offer it to a body which could make meaningful and respectful use of it. For example, to one of the shires or councils which actively treasure their gold rush history. [That is only my thought.]

So Albury Council twice gave this subject a run. The latest  [28/11/11] took 15 minutes. The gain from that exercise? Space in the media - remember, elections are coming.

Gold was part of the Albbury story. Perhaps there is worthwhile gold rush history and heritage in Albury today? Not prominent, if there is.

You can read reference to the goldfileds use of water power in a handy Victorian source, found under ‘Heritage’ on the excellent Planning & Community Development website:

http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/heritage

The following link takes you directly to the PDF in their database:

http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/44619/Yackandandah.pdf