Roundabout beautification still going around in circles

Dear Tertia

I am writing to express my concern regarding the recent decision by Hay Shire Council to use rocks and cement on the approaches (splitters) to the South Hay roundabout.

This was revealed at a Landcare meeting on Friday night.

I was absolutely dumbfounded. Rocks are not endemic to Hay and concrete is a very environmentally unfriendly substance.

Rocks and cement create a harsh visual impression, detracting from the surrounding natural beauty.

Hay is a unique town in the middle of the largest treeless flat plain in the Southern Hemisphere.

Visitors and residents alike value the area’s charm, which will be compromised by the overly industrial aesthetics.

The reason the trial planting at the splitters did not work was that the soil was not prepared for planting.

Any farmer would tell you that you must work up the ground to prepare it for cropping.

The drippers also were not working properly and a lot of the tube stock planted did not survive.

So I believe the trial results are invalid.

I urge Hay Shire Council to reconsider their decision and work with Landcare to explore a more suitable alternative.

Please give Landcare another chance to make Hay what it was when the legendary Mick Beckwith, with his passion for beautifying Hay, was mayor.

Thank you for allowing me space in your paper.

Sally Smith.