Founder furious over park's demise

Dave Burns has his say about the plan to resume Clinton Park’s sporting fields for the airport expansion.

Brett Mcwaters GLAPARK

Related links

• Proposal to relocate clubs
• Expansion to affect grounds

THERE is no swaying Dave Burns's opinion of the Gladstone Regional Council and the decision regarding the relocation of local clubs.

"The council has dark glasses and a white cane," Mr Burns, founding chairman and life member of Clinton Park, said.

"I don't know what they are thinking. Clinton Park is the best sporting facility we have, why would you take that away?

"There are three turf pitches in this park alone, you take that away and the town is less three, you're not going to get them back without spending millions."

Mr Burns's passionate outrage is not without due cause.

"This was one of the earliest sporting facilities in Gladstone, prior to its development sport was played out of school ovals," he said.

"I was elected to council all those years ago due to my stand on the sporting platform and thanks to a band of volunteers we have this park.

"Volunteers created what is Clinton Park. It started with the cricket pitch closest to the Penda Ave roundabout but when the roundabout was added the field grew."

To see the hard work of his mates and himself be turned into commercial airport property saddens Mr Burns.

"We already have limited sporting facilities which are not at the standard to the rest of the state," he said.