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How mean, mindless, thoughtless (wait while I count to ten). Since planting the bougainvilleas we have found some vandalism, and while it makes us get annoyed we have managed to fix the problems.
However, we have no control over the weather and the devastating damage done by the cold this year. So on top of that I was pretty disgusted when on Saturday I went to replace a few drippers I thought had popped off. I started in the middle section where we appeared to have quite a trough of water after they had been on only a short while. I found the drippers missing which I started to replace until I ran out of drippers. I had to return to Mining and Steel three times buying them out of the same type before as 70 cents each and having to convert to a cheaper one to finish the job.
In all 65 dripper ends had been removed in a section easiest to get at, as the plants were struggling in this area. I know it’s a drought and things are tough, but hey, come on! This is a voluntary group providing a future tourist attraction for the benefit of you and the whole community. Give us a break will you. It takes an hour to walk the line adjusting drippers so it must have taken this person at least 10 to 15 minutes to pull all these off. Didn’t anyone see the culprit?
The good news is we will get the second side of Bougainvilleas underway very shortly, along the left hand side of Bill O’Brien Way. Since the other side was completed last year, the committee has been trying to get the Shire to put the underground water line in on the opposite side.
After some yes we can, no we can’t, we’ve got a pipe in the yard, no we haven’t got the right size pipe ... etc.
Local councillors in support of the project have had council make a firm commitment to put the underground water in. The Lightning Ridge I.B.C. will undertake to handle the rest of the work, that is: paying a fencing contractor to get the fence up, and then we would hope to have Newtrain assistance in getting the waterline on the fence; we will be ordering the bougainvilleas from the local nurseries. Then it will be the public’s turn to be involved, by paying for a plant or plants. By charging $15 each.
This allows us to cover the GST, the cost of a portion of the fence and the waterline and the possibility of a replacement plant in the future. Don’t miss the opportunity to be involved in establishing a future tourist attraction. To be part of the second side, contact me on 6829 10181. Only 250 left to sell.
The best news is some of the first side are starting to rejuvenate. It will be at least three to four weeks before we will decide on replacements for those hit by the frost. Once we can get them all well established, even when they get frost knocked, it will be unlikely to kill them, but boy this year has been a doozy!
Some of them had just been replaced in June too! Some people have offered to replace their own, but we could do with an injection of funds to cope with replacements for those who can’t.
And don’t forget, if you want a plaque beside your plant, get in touch with Diane Holz on 6829 0736. Diane has a list of the number and names of your plants.
Margaret Mansfield
Secretary
The Lightning Ridge IBC (Improvement and Beautification Committee)
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