The Scarrabelotti family donated to Council a special corner of their land at Coorabell. It’s so everyone could enjoy what their family enjoyed. A breathtaking view over the Myocum Valley hinterland and beyond to the Byron coast and ocean.
Wasn’t long ago that I remember a Council development meeting where a decision was being taken on the now approved restaurant development nearby. Various councillors including Cr Cameron talked passionately about the significance of this lookout to the community and the legacy left by Joe’s father. Cr Cameron passed comment: ‘We must celebrate the important value this site has for the community’. Similar passionate comments were made at the time by other councillors and Mayor Richardson.
Before Covid, as Council have never bothered to maintain the family’s gift to the community, Joe Scarrabelotti would take it upon himself to tractor slash and whipper snip the lookout area. That included using the whipper snipper around lots of human excrement and toilet paper left on the ground by the illegal campers who Council have never bothered controlling. Joe made the effort because he was proud of his father’s legacy. A legacy that now belongs to all the community and is especially loved by the Coorabell locals.
The state of the lookout now does not align with the pride and passion espoused by the various councillors on that day. It’s a crying shame that the councillors’ love and passion for this special place cannot be reflected and respected with having it cleaned up, starting with the removal of the large rocks which have prevented Joe doing his regular voluntary cleanup because the Council cannot be bothered to carry out its duties.
At the start of Covid, locals requested Council to close the lookout so that illegal campers, hunted out of Byron at the time by Council, would be prevented from spreading the illness amongst themselves and the wider community. Council placed large rocks to block the entrance from Coolamon Scenic Drive.
After Covid, when the Council reopened the lookout, the rocks were not removed and were just shunted around the perimeter of the lookout carpark. Trouble was, they now blocked Joe’s ability to slash with his tractor as he had always needed to do.
So the lookout area is now overgrown with weeds and long grass without Joe’s ability to care for his father’s legacy which he quietly did before in his own time, with his own equipment and fuel.
The local community has made formal representations since September 2022 to have the large rocks removed. At a site meeting in October 2022, Council agreed to remove the rocks before Christmas 2022. Continued correspondence with Council has unfortunately resulted in nothing being done.
It should be a priority for Council to respect the legacy left by Joe’s father and respect Joe’s and my repeated requests to remove the rocks so he can keep it clean. Even if Council can’t.
The place now looks appalling compared to what it was. Overgrown with weeds and piled up toilet paper and excrement in the long grass and weeds. Not a great advertisement for tourists coming to Byron who frequent the much-loved lookout during the day.
It’s now the end of 2023 and we have now been advised formally that the long overdue task is no longer even on Council’s radar. The latest response from Council just doesn’t pass the pub test I’m afraid.
As recognised by the councillors, the lookout is a special place that needs to be looked after. The Council’s response this week is very sad and the Scarrabelotti family and wider community deserve better.
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