A giant Akubra hat, a picture of rugby league legend Merv Wright and electronic advertising boards are just three of the suggestions Mercury readers would like to see at our city’s gateways.
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The suggestions stem from a poll The Mercury put on line this week after councillor Peter Garnham said Maitland’s gateways look like the back end of a dairy.
Cr Garnham’s call for improvements sparked a great deal of interest on The Mercury website and Facebook page with people quick to suggest improvements, others suggesting council stop spending money on “pet projects.”
Some readers said long grass, derelict buildings, over grown median strips and open drains were eyesores.
One reader suggested some sort of installation that would showcase Maitland as being the home of Steamfest with electronic boards showing what is on in the city each month.
Another reader said Maitland council is wasting millions and should be sacked. “Look at the waste in the mall and continuing with a stupid arch to look at a dirty river. Money would be better spend improving roads so they don’t flood,” the reader said.
Cr Garnham received praise from one reader who said council is not paying attention to the appearance of the city.
In another comment a reader said: “It’s not just the signage that needs attention, the Long Bridge over Veteran’s Flat is in need of a lot of maintenance, resurfacing, hand rail painting and improved lighting for pedestrians.
“Yes I am aware that it is the responsibility of the Roads and Maritime Service but council needs to take it up with them. I believe this work was supposed to have started in August last year,” the reader said.
The western entry to the city copped some criticism with one reader describing it as a total disgrace. “Long grass and scrappy trees along the highway which is flanked by a large open drain where I have seen several cars come to grief over the years. All this starts from the Windella turn-off. Just because it is part industrial doesn’t mean it should be neglected.”
