To: The Editor, Whitsunday News Newspaper
RE: D/A 20241233 – ‘Jurassic Falls’ mini golf and outdoor recreation – Main Street, Airlie Beach
Like many other residents of Whitsunday, the prospect of a land based activity for visitors and residents is very welcome.
But I’m also sure that many of us find the proposed dinosaur theme totally at odds with the character we’d like to promote for the main street of Airlie Beach.
The centrally located site, adjacent to the taxi rank, is highly visible.
The suggested dinosaur façade will inevitably become an almost irresistible attraction for graffiti and vandalism.
This dinosaur theme is totally at odds with the Airlie Beach main street, but then, even a whale, reef, coral or fish theme would probably attract the same vandalism.
When foreshore toilet blocks and playgrounds are trashed on a regular basis, large dinosaurs or other models don’t stand a chance.
How are they going to stop vandalism without putting up big fences?
Such security measures certainly aren’t a good image for a family friendly activity venue and certainly not something to enhance Airlie Beach main street as a desirable tourist destination.
I’m conscious that the owners wish to develop this site, but surely with some lateral and inspired planning, a similar venue could be developed making the most of this location with its wonderful views and incorporating and utilising the magnificent trees already on this site.
There is so little green canopy in Airlie Main Street, it would be tragic to lose these trees and the vista they provide as entrance to the Airlie Beach foreshore.
Then this could become a truly unique Whitsunday tourist attraction and not just a mini version of ‘Jurassic Falls – Adventure Golf’ in Walthamstow, London, UK, which is an educational, action packed, Florida-style 18-hole Adventure Golf course, where you can wander safari style through dinosaur territory and watch their near life-size predators move, breathe and roar! There’s also quad bike safaris, dining and mini golf!
I don’t wish to be unkind, but Iris and Wombat’s old house site just isn’t large enough to provide such a ‘Jurassic Falls’ experience.
Maybe out of town on a larger property, but in any case, I sincerely believe that the suggested dinosaur theme is not appropriate for a site in the middle of the Airlie Beach Main Street.
Yours sincerely,
Faye Chapman
Cannonvale – resident since 1994.
