While many have expressed their scepticism about the idea of building such a monument, another point of interest is that Greater Shepparton — and particularly Mooroopna — is already home to a ‘big thing’ with significant potential for our local and visitor economy.
KidsTown, a place that has been a key memory for so many kids who grew up in Greater Shepparton and further afield, has continued to be neglected and fall into greater disrepair.
The once shining beacon is now a hollow husk of what it once was.
With the size of the land, it also offers extensive opportunities for events, community markets and other chances to continue building the local region’s platform.
I remember when I was younger, going to events such as those run by Word and Mouth for Halloween, and I for one want to make sure that the next generation of young people gets to see how great the site can be.
With the cost-of-living crisis facing Australians from all walks of life, having access to low-cost venues such as KidsTown also means that families can still enjoy local days out without having to break the bank.
While the floods caused significant damage to the grounds of KidsTown, the downfall of the site has been long in the making, with declining maintenance and community concerns surrounding the space.
KidsTown offers our community a significant tourism opportunity.
The potential to attract families to the region supports an injection of funds across the hospitality, retail and accommodation sectors, among others.
Whether or not the Big Pear is the next ‘big thing’, we need to make sure the ‘big thing’ we already have in our community is maintained and improved for generations to come — and continues to contribute to building a strong local visitor economy.
Rowan Farren | Shepparton
