There's now a lot of largely uninformed finger pointing and blame games being played but until the community is told what the issues are - in full - no one outside the organisation really knows what we're being punished for.

But there's a point the column believes relevant. During this correspondent's working life at the Lithgow Mercury news room the paper covered every stage of development and day to day activities of that facility from the first sod turning ceremony on day one.

People love to complain to newspapers on anything that peeves them but NOT ONCE over the many years to my recollection was there a complaint about care provided by Cooinda and Tanderra.

This mess has to be sorted out quickly to the satisfaction of all concerned. Anything else would be inhumane.

WITH the very nice rejuvenation work now complete in Pioneer Park we're hearing suggestions for a flagpole (with flag) and some seating. The former flagpole in the east end park was swallowed up years ago by tree growth and removed. Our Council is not big on flags (there are naked poles all over town) but we think a patriotic flutter alongside Marjorie in Cook Plaza would be nice too.

IT hasn't quite gone into the trenches just yet but there's possible warfare looming over a request by the Lithgow RSL for Council to purchase an artillery piece no longer wanted by the Army. But no one seems sure where it should go. The RSL preference seems to be for QE Park where a field piece already stands guard. The column doubts any thinking person would want more totally inappropriate and environmentally ugly clutter of any sort there. The SAF Museum doesn't want it at any cost and the RSL says Endeavour Park or the Bowenfels gun sites are not suitable. Sort of limits the options. This giant gun is 7.5 metres long with the barrel alone a lofty four metres. And it weighs six tonnes. In short a monstrosity in the wrong place. And QE Park is certainly the wrong place.

Maybe the play area at Endeavour Park to give the kids a whole new meaning to Adventure Playground. No one in social media chatter seems enthusiastic except the RSL. Council is inviting comments on council@ithgow.gov.au. (In a past life there were two captured German Great War guns flanking the park memorial until long ago they were taken away for scrap).

STILL with QE Park, a location where Council famously sees no priority in water issues. So with the background that burden we're delighted to announce the park fountain is once again in play, some months after being shut down for what must have been a monumental malfunction.