THERE’S no doubt that the delightful Lake Wallace at Wallerawang has become a mecca for caravanners. In recent days there were probably new attendance records set with visitors from all over (as is the case downstream at Lake Lyell) and this will only grow as the word spreads. But there are a couple of issues that need to be addressed urgently if we’re to preserve our reputation. The entrance from Barton Avenue into the park is increasingly potholed and rough and needs a permanent solution. Much more deterioration and it’ll only be accessible to 4WDs. Then there’s the ridiculous situation where the council continues to close the only amenities block at around 6pm at weekends. During daylight saving this is absurd. The early closing in Lithgow’s Queen Elizabeth Park appears to have been resolved after complaints from the public but the Lake Wallace indifference goes on and on. As it’s a council employee on overtime that locks the place it shouldn’t be too difficult to correct the situation. (Still on Lake Wallace, the recent storms have played havoc with the unsealed roads so exercise caution.)

It’s not just pigeon poo

THERE are strange things happen when it comes to demarcation lines. For some days there has been a particularly unpleasant situation created by a blocked sewer trap in the laneway linking Main Street with Main Street Lane a short distance east of the Mercury Office. The surcharge has been flowing down the lane, across the Main Street footpath and eventually into the gutter. The problem was first reported to council on Monday but the unsavoury mess continued yesterday. Council’s explanation is that although being made aware of the problem they couldn’t do anything about it as the source of the problem was on private property. And attempts to contact the owner of the building had been unsuccessful until yesterday afternoon. A plumber was subsequently contacted, we were told. Yep, pigeon poo’s not our only pavement problem.

The march of time

SO that’s Australia Day out of the way and that signifies for most of us the end of the summer holiday season. Schools are resuming after the long break, double demerits have ended, footy training is back and within a couple of weeks the first shades of autumn will be appearing. All our little route markers on the march of time.

Strike up the band

IN years gone by town bands across the region would regularly compete against each other in brass band competitions. Clearly there would be some happy memories of those days. If that rings any cymbals with you then you might like to consider a trip to Mudgee in October this year. Mudgee Town Band is planing a reunion of members from the 1950s and ‘60s. And Hazel Tree says they want to include members of ‘other listed bands’ — Lithgow, Katoomba, Bathurst, Orange, Kandos, Portland, Dubbo and Wellington. “We want to re-live the friendship and pleasure we all enjoyed by being members of the Mudgee District Band and others,” says Hazel. A formal date will be decided depending on the response. You can get more information or register interest by contacting Hazel (0427 281 819 bhtree@bigpond.cm), Gloria Slater (07 5593 3324 slatsgm1@bigpond.com) or Greg Croan (07 5450 5285 greg.croan@bigpond.com). Get along and play a happy tune.

Holy snakes alive!

NOW here’s something you don’t see every day in Lithgow’s Main Street. A reader heading into town at the top end at the weekend was about to run over a black belt on the footpath with his mobility scooter until ‘the belt’ began to wriggle out of harm’s way. The black snake that had been basking in the morning sunshine headed across Pioneer Park towards the railway embankment. “A woman who saw it was a bit hesitant to go into the public toilet at the park,” he said.