By Jeremy Sollars
Swanfels residents past and present are livid after the Southern Downs Regional Council demolished a historic shelter shed in the Swanfels Pioneer Park less than 48 hours after announcing the structure would have to go due to white ant damage.
As reported online by the Free Times, the council announced on Wednesday 18 January that the shed – which was originally a play shed at the former Swanfels school – was a danger to public safety due to an extensive white ant infestation.
The demolition crew rolled onto the site on Swanfels Road the following Friday and by morning smoko time the 113-year-old shelter shed was literally a thing of the past.
All that remains in council-owned Pioneer Park is a rainwater tank which was attached to the shelter shed, a concrete storage bunker and some play equipment.
Locals and others are furious that the council gave no opportunity for public consultation, with some saying the community would more than likely have pitched in to help repair the structure, which had stood in Pioneer Park since the early 1980s.
The loss of the shelter shed is a double blow to the country community east of Warwick, with the annual Swanfels State School reunion – which is always held in the park – just a couple of weeks away.
The council has since advised that funding for a replacement structure in the park will be sought “in a future budget”.
Milton Rippingale summed up the mood of the community, describing council’s lack of consultation as “ignorant and arrogant”.
“There was hardly any warning – they have just shown no respect at all to the community here, particularly the older residents,” he said.
“The building had been there for a long time and hadn’t fallen down.
“We would have got together as a community and tried our best to save it.”
Former Swanfels school pupil Ruby Johnson said the park and the shelter shed had been well used over the years.
“There’s been a lot of events held here every year – wedding parties and anniversaries and Christmas parties,” she said.
“The park has been very popular and very well utilised.”
Ruby said those attending the Swanfels school reunion would bring tents and gazebos to the event to provide shade.
The annual Swanfels State School Reunion will be held at Pioneer Park on Swanfels Road, near Anstey Road, from 9am on Saturday 11 February.
No booking is required, BYO picnic lunch and drinks and tables and chairs.
For more information contact Ruby Johnson on 0438 674 803.
