In November 2017, the Upper Lachlan Shire Council voted to purchase the land adjoining Goodhew Park, Taralga (being approximately 1349m2) for $50,000.

Plans include an upgrade to the children’s play equipment, a covered barbecue area with barbecue facilities, two picnic shelters, and the installation of a new toilet block.

The current playground equipment will include a general refurbishment and the installation of new equipment.

The council is also ensuring the park can be used throughout the year.

“It’s not such an aesthetic thing, we are looking at the drainage issues that have existed there, with heavy rain the park has typically flooded. The new plan will pipe that drainage.

“It will be a much more usable park,” mayor John Stafford said.

Goodhew Park is a key facility and has been historically well-used.

“You can talk to locals and they had their childhood parties there.

“It is also a central point for visitors and how they see the town.”

In Crookwell, works at Clifton Park with new facilities were completed late in 2018.

“I’d love to see right across the shire that every village has a park and facilities that they can be proud of both for locals use and visitors alike,” Cr Stafford said.

“There are two or three facilities that the locals make use of and are central... the showgrounds the local hall and the parks and those three aspects of life in every village should be really well supported.”

The upgrade was partially funded by the NSW Government’s 2017 Community Building Partnership program.

In November, the Upper Lachlan Shire Council allocated $32,000 from the Tarlaga RV Parking provision towards the completion of the improvements. The total budget is $210,000.

The contract was awarded to JL Proudman Building.

Josh Proudman said that work is expected to start on Monday, March 18 and the program will be conducted over four weeks.

In February, concerned students at Taralga Public School wrote to Cr Stafford and the council requesting answers regarding the removal of several trees at Goodhew Park.

The students main concerns were: no shade; new tree growth; and the removal of an area they had used for climbing, building and hide and seek. 

Cr Stafford responded to the students in a letter shared to the Crookwell Gazette.

"Unfortunately, the trees needed to be removed, after inspection by a qualified arborist, the trees were deemed dangerous due to being basically rotten at the base. 

"Numerous dead and broken limbs prompted the initial inspection which then revealed widespread hazardous problems."

Cr Stafford continued, "Thank you once again for your letter and interest in the village and please, keep the letters coming if you have other thoughts."