When you think about the prettiest towns in the region, Warialda is not on the tips of many tongues. But that is set to change, with Warialda residents, business owners and councillors getting ready to clean up and put a bit of sparkle on the historic town.
This coming Sunday (27th July) will see Warialda locals exert some elbow grease in an effort to bring about a more vibrant and cleaner community.
In what the Warialda Chamber of Commerce described as an ‘ambitious initiative’ that will ‘add a little shine to the community and boost morale’, the day will focus on tidying streets, footpaths and windows across the town’s central business district (CBD). A similar clean up initiative was one of the first things Bingara did when it began its process of transformation some years ago.
The event – branded ‘Time to Shine’ – also aims to build connections between Gwydir Shire Council and businesses in the wake of what Warialda chamber says are ‘mounting concerns about the area’s conditions’.
These concerns are by no means new. In 2008, residents in the municipality presented a community plan to Gwydir council with a series of ‘vision statements’ that reflected the same issues.
In the plan, people flagged that footpath and road pavers were dirty and needed cleaning, and that roadside trees weren’t being maintained.
The town, the original administration centre for the Gwydir region and site of the first police station, certainly has the potential to be a boom town for those seeking a rural village lifestyle change. It is ripe for gentrification, with a collection of inspiring historical buildings in town, and lots of older – and cheap – homes with great renovation potential. Most of the main streets in Warialda are paved as opposed to concrete, which both enhances the opportunity for the town to capitalise on the ‘cute country town’ boom, but does show up the lack of maintenance.
Warialda chamber of commerce secretary Laura Cush said after years of confusion about responsibility for the cleanliness of footpaths, the chamber decided to get the ball rolling – with council then joining in.
‘It’s not just the footpaths and streets we are focusing on,’ Cush said.
‘We are engaging local businesses to look from a customer’s perspective.
‘We are hoping all business owners – whether they can participate on the day – will get on board, and do their bit.’
On its Facebook page, the chamber said Gwydir council had commenced pressure cleaning local footpaths and streets ahead of the working bee on Sunday.
Cush said, ‘The CBD is a reflection of our town’s pride and potential. It’s the face we show to visitors.
‘It’s also a sign of self-respect and respect for your fellow business owners.’
Locals are encouraged to get involved as many hands make light work, as well as joining as a community at the Royal for a celebration afterwards.
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