Letter to the Editor: A tale of two gardens

DEAR News Of The Area,

LAST week, I visited Yarrila Place to enjoy the art exhibitions, but before even entering the building, I was struck by the lack of aesthetic appeal in the front gardens.

The planting appears haphazard – an odd assortment of tropical bromeliads, cottage flowers, native grasses, and some sadly dead plants.

This mismatched selection suggests little consideration for cohesive planning, design principles, or local plant suitability.

To make matters worse, weeds were visibly woven throughout the beds, further detracting from the space’s appearance.

The contrast could not be more stark when compared with the gardens at Coffs Harbour Airport which are thoughtfully designed and beautifully maintained to truly welcome visitors to the area, as well as the subtropical climate of the region. The airport gardens (as shared in the NOTA story two weeks ago) are nurtured by volunteers from the Coffs Harbour Garden Club, not paid council staff.

This raises a fair question: why is it that volunteers can achieve a level of care and attention to detail that council workers, supported by ratepayer funds, seemingly cannot?

Yarrila Place is a cultural and civic centrepiece – shouldn’t its exterior reflect the same level of design and intention as the ‘celebrated’ interior?

Regards,
Helen MORSCHEL,
Sawtell.