In June, Metro held an open house to display two options for the cottages in Davies Orchard: demolish four, or demolish six. They based their conclusions on a report that Bowen Heritage acquired access to just this week. In that report they never use the verb “demolish” but instead use “commemorate” with “plinths.” somehow “echoing the verandahs originally located here.”
These “experts” suffer such a monumental lack of imagination, it hurts. That they are exerting control over our heritage with an almost complete lack of consultation and no collaboration, adds to the pain. Our Metro representative says that she, “understands local sentiment but is struggling with representing Metro’s interests on Bowen.” The process has been appalling.
It may be a lot easier to hire one part-time summer employee to cut grass rather than organize reservations, housekeeping, advertising, decorating and programming, but it does not make what we are about to have shoved down our throats is acceptable, or at best anything more than utterly boring.
Their underlying premise is that regional parks exist to connect people to nature, despite the fact that Davies Orchard has been significantly altered by settlement and likely could never be returned to anything resembling “natural.” Evidence of changes over the past 100-plus years exists: possibly a 1st Nations midden, ancient cedar stumps from an old growth forest, 100 year old fruit trees and a cluster of resort era cottages. Such evidence is important, unique, irreplaceable and marketable.
The original Davies farmhouse was in the southwest corner of DL 777 - possibly at the far end of festival field - but no one mentions it or remembers. Without physical evidence the past vanishes. This is a miniscule (0.9 of 220 hectares =0.4%) but special corner of one of several regional parks.
As it stands now, Metro needs to be persuaded that the cottages have value and should be considered (as they have been until recently) an exception to natural.
There are three main issues: cost, uses and management. Let’s assume Metro adds nothing to what has already been budgeted. Whatever their amount, they need to put it on paper and then support the locals in trying to leverage more. If that fails, then, but only then, talk about demolition. Twenty years ago Metro was very much involved in fund-raising but that stopped and has not been reconsidered, the excuse was that there was no plan. Now there is a plan but it does not include working with the community.
With respect to uses, staff reported that no-one expressed any interest in anything other than tourist accommodation, a museum and bookable space. That is dishonest.
A year ago, at the first open house, staff said they could only consider “non-exclusive regional uses” but could not define what that meant. At the stakeholder meeting there were several suggestions, and staff said “no,” to everything. In November, 2016 they published a list of nine uses but their recommendations are limited to three. Why not a nature house/classroom with a naturalist on staff bringing in school and other tour groups. One could be a tearoom, gallery and used book lounge. Scouts, the Yacht club and all sorts of service groups are all looking for space. Artist workshops and galleries have strong Bowen interest. Imagine small conferences for offices or groups, or weekend workshops for writers, photographers, painters, film makers, fibre artists. There is interest on Bowen to have an artists’ retreat. Offer it to university faculties too. There’s a critical need for housing on Bowen yet caretaker accommodation was not mentioned. And remarkably, at the June, 2017 display, Metro’s option of “open space” got only one dot. These could be shelters from the rain, which happens usually 10 months a year.
Anything other than grass needs management, but Metro cannot imagine an income producing model which pays for competent staff. Worst of all, they have no faith that this community could pull together and make such a venture happen or keep it going. There are hundreds of people who want to help - construction, decorating, advertising, maintenance. It is difficult to convince Metro to play fair or play at all, but Bowen can do a whole lot better than “plinths”!
Without notice to Bowen Heritage, and with no public announcement or agenda, there will be a special meeting of our council on September 11 at 1:00 pm where Metro staff will present their final proposal. Just like with the threatened timber licence there is very little time allowed (after waiting patiently for 25 YEARS) and let’s face it: decisions have already been made.
Please attend, or send your comments to our Mayor and council prior to September 11th.
Judi Gedye,
Bowen Heritage
