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How the community values Timbertown
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What do you value most about Timbertown? What effect would it have on the local community and the Hastings if Timbertown was to be closed? Please comment on the social, economic and other impacts you think important.
This online discussion forum has concluded. You can still browse the site but the discussion area will no longer accept new comments or votes.
Comment 1 15 Jul 2009, 3:55 PM
I think the area would lose a significant link to it's past if Timbertown was closed. It would also be a lost opportunity to improve the existing infrastructure to deliver a rejuvenated theme park as opposed to the prohibitive green field cost of such a venture. If we do not re-develop Timbertown it's unlikely we'll have a community owned attraction ever again.
If re-developed the project should deliver a long term plan for maintenance of improvements and the addition of further attractions in the future assuming the park generates enough income.
When visitors ask what is there to do in the Hastings it would be great to be able to proudly list a rejuvenated Timbertown in the reply.
Comment 1.1 17 Jul 2009, 12:25 PM
I would suggest that no-one under estimates the economic impact to not just Wauchope, but all the surrounding areas including Port would be, as there are significant Tourist spinoffs from Timbertown. Especially considering that the only other attraction for the Hastings is (wait for it) Sea Acres! (Not there is anything wrong with Sea Acres just its not something you are going to keep coming back to the Hastings for and there are Rainforest areas in the Hinterland.)
Comment 1.2 17 Jul 2009, 5:07 PM
Timbertown has been a drain on community resources for almost it's entire existence.
There have been numerous attempts to resurrect it over the years - both by Council and private sector interests - all to no avail.
It would be interesting to quantify the direct financial cost to Council and individuals of doing this over the years - perhaps Council could quantify this for us - it is certainly relevant.
It is also noteworthy to consider that similar theme parks in Sydney and the central coast - while initially successful - have by and large faltered and turned out to be non-viable.
It's more…
Comment 1.2.1 20 Jul 2009, 8:25 PM
Bundy please re-read my comments above. If we are to remain a tourist destination (ala the Hastings) we need tourist attractions - a relatively simple equasion not always directly related to tourist dollars in 1 door! The major reasons for the problems in T/T are related directly to council. Full stop.
Comment 1.2.2 21 Jul 2009, 9:37 PM
What teenager or child really wants to go hang out in a museum 'fun park'? It opens, it closes, it opens, it closes... I've got good memories of Timbertown but there's only so many times you can keep going at the same old idea before it becomes clear it isn't viable.
Comment 1.2.2.1 8 Aug 2009, 11:23 AM
Timbertown is not designed or meant to be a "hang-out" place for teenagers. It was not designed to be a "fun" park, but a recreation of Wauchope timber heritage past.
Comment 1.2.3 4 Aug 2009, 11:06 AM
Bundy I think you need to be more informed Timbertown brings in over 6million dollars to the community each year. Last time the Theme Park closed tourism in the area droped by a massive 30%. What else would bring people to the area when you think what the surrounding areas have to offer eg Coffs Harbour. Yes we have beautiful beaches but so does every other town on the east coast!!!!
If young people don't get to see these things they don't really have an understanding of them..
Yes other parks such as this have closed, but if you did your research, more…
Comment 1.3 24 Jul 2009, 8:31 PM
We live in Port. We have never visited Timbertown. We have numerous visitors every year & none of our visitors have ever been there.
I can't see how the majority of Hastings ratepayers would get any benefit from the expenditure required to either prop it up or from the capital outlay required to improve it. Whilst some visitors may visit the park while they are here...the park does not entice them here, so the economic benefit is questionable.
We would prefer to see it closed, and any proceeds from land sales put back into Wauchope for the benefit of Wauchope ratepayers...perhaps a heated pool or other improved facilities??
Personally, I don't see why ratepayers in the Hastings should subsidise an operation that gives visitors that are here anyway something to do - especially when they'll just spend their "tourist dollar" elsewhere in the Hastings anyway.
Comment 1.3.1 27 Jul 2009, 12:59 PM
Having never visited Timbertown yourself how can you possibly make such a sweeping statement as to closing Timbertown? You can't possibly have any idea as to the pleasure it brings to many people. Economically, by closing Timbertown you would find that visitors to the Hastings would stay, maybe, 2 days, get sick of only having the beach to go to, and look elsewhere to take the kids for further entertainment, probably Coffs Harbour. The tourist dollar gone from the Hastings. Also, the ratepayer is already subsidising an operation with the costly ongoing maintenance of the beaches and foreshore without any direct income benefit to the Council, and therefore the ratepayer.
Comment 1.3.2 4 Aug 2009, 11:14 AM
portguy my reply to you is as to Bundy how can you comment without the facts this is a useless comment when we know Timbertown does bring people to the area and tourism droped by 30% last time it closed you may not work in the tourism industry but plenty in the area do and a drop of tourism by 30% means loss of jobs are you going to be the one to tell them you have no work for them. I think not, maybe you need to bring your visitors to Timbertown and gauge their reactions.
Comment 1.4 11 Aug 2009, 11:35 AM
We have virtually just got off the bus, so to speak, in living in Port Macquarie and are blown away by all the money spent on the Glasshouse when family attractions have been left and most have now gone forever. Instead of concentrating on "corporate" dollars with the Journey of Flavour and the Glasshouse maybe money could be better spent on getting back to family orientated attractions. Timbertown is a must for this area surely the powers that be realise this. Supposedly the Glasshouse has generated some income so hopefully with a rejuvenated Timbertown this could also attract extra income. Timbertown is virtually one of a kind so please dont let another family attraction close in Port Macquarie.
Comment 2 26 Jul 2009, 10:00 PM
Timbertown has always been a wonderful memory of my childhood. I went there many times and I have recently taken my 3 year old daughter who loved it. She had never been in a horse and carriage and loved the "big cows". It has so much history. It is also a place local schools have their annual Kindergarten excursions every year. The children love this place. To see it gone would be terrible loss to our community.
Comment 3 28 Jul 2009, 2:56 PM
I note that a considerable cost involved in the proposed re-development to timbertown is the renovations required to the admin building at the front entrance, works needed to ensure fire and oh+s conformity.
I would like to submit the idea of moving the park entrance to the eastern car park, at the bottom of the existing ramp. THis would keep visitors out of the admin building.
A new entrance and gate house would be required, but could be cost effectivly constructed using timber harvested and milled on site, preferably the trees between the highway and the park which block the park from view by passing trafic.
An idea for extra funding: A $3.00 ticket levy on productions at the glasshouse should add some more to the kitty!
Comment 4 29 Jul 2009, 3:25 PM
Once upon a time in OLDE WAUCHOPE there was a Chamber of Commerce Meeting to welcome a new Tourism person who went by the name of Albert Ob ##### ( real name withheld) .. He hadnt visited west of the highway up till this point because " he had been informed as to how dangerous the road was OUT THERE ".....
METHINKS there are still a few of these mind games going on from some of the comments generated ..
I personally have never forgiven Albert and his invisible beaurocrats for that comment ..
I also won't forgive the attitude of those who will not venture or recommend anything outside the Port Macquarie environs ..
If East Wauchope had gotten behind Timbertown as part of the Hastings region ( as well as the Camden Haven etc etc )maybe, just maybe the visitor figures may have been good enough ..
Comment 4.1 29 Jul 2009, 5:56 PM
Surely a 20-30 minute drive is not an issue if the Park is viable? Jamberoo Park which is a 20 min drive from Wollongong, gets plenty of visitation (and so does Dreamworld for that matter), but Timbertown simply does not compare as a destination & the cost to develop it to that extent would be prohibitive.
I don't think this is a Port vs Wauchope argument at all, but is all about the park - regardless of where it is located.
Comment 5 30 Jul 2009, 9:55 AM
I have to agree with HappyHammer and strawb. Timbertown is all about our heritage. We have an obligation to our children to show them how our Grandparents and Great Grandparents lived and taught us skills that are dead and gone. How many people can ride a penny farthing bike? how many can crack whips and control a bullock team? just throwing horse shoes. (Children playing outside their living rooms) What a loss to our community if council closes Timbertown.
Comment 5.1 9 Aug 2009, 6:36 PM
TOTALLY AGREE WHY CAN THESE PENCIL NECKS SPEND MILLIONS ON A GLASS HOUSE WHERE THERE IS NO BENIFIT ONLY TO THOSE WHO THINK THAT THEY NEED IT BUT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR HERITAGE OUR HISTORY WHERE OUR KIDS KIDS CAN SEE AND LEARN HOW OUR TOWN WAS BUILD (BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS) THEY CANT EVEN SAVE THIS VITAL ASSEAT TO A TOWN WHERE WE NEED THIS ATTRACTION FOR BOTH MONEY AND TOURISM JUST TRY AND THINK WHERE IS THIS TYPE OF PARK IN AUSTRALIA.
