General News
19 August, 2026
Parkland cost still unknown
QUESTIONS about the cost of opening Priors Creek Parklands and of ongoing events to activate the space remain unanswered by Tablelands Regional Council.
At council’s latest meeting, Cr Kevin Cardew asked about the cost of the official opening on 10-11 July and whether the council had a budget for the activation of the parklands but could not get an answer.
“Do we have a budget allocation for the activities being undertaken at Priors Creek? Where is all the money coming from?” he said.
Chief executive officer Nicola Stepanov replied that the funds were in the operational budget but could not give the councillor an actual amount.
Placemaking general manager Greg Bowden weighed in, confirming there were funds but, again, did not divulge how much.
“As far as the costings go and the opening costs, we’re still compiling those costs, we’re still not there,” he told the meeting at the end of July.
“There is budget approved in the 2026-27 budget for promotions and precinct activation – not only for Priors Creek Parklands but precinct activation around the region.”
Cr Cardew, who is contesting the Mayoral by-election, asked what proportion of that budget would be attributed to Priors Creek and when council could expect a report.
Mr Bowden said the costings for the opening would likely be in a report for the 27 August meeting but was unsure when the ongoing activation costings report would be presented to council.
Since the opening, the council has staged two movie nights, called “Creekside Family Cinema”, at the parklands, screening old titles, Jurassic Park and The Princess Bride. Movies are scheduled to be shown once a month on a Saturday night.
The council has also been promoting “artisan and farmers markets” which will be held on the first Friday of each month.
The Express asked the council to advise what the annual cost of maintaining the parklands will be, what the cost of the official opening was, and what money has been allocated for the ongoing events of the recreational space.
Council failed to answer the questions, instead stating: “The budget for maintaining the Priors Creek Parklands is managed within council’s broader allocation for parks and open spaces.
“Costs for the opening event and ongoing precinct activation were incorporated into the adopted 2026-27 Budget, and an update will be included as part of a report to council in the coming months.”
The annual cost of maintaining the recreational area have been raised many times over the past year and, to date, council has not divulged how much that will be.
As far back as March 2025, Atherton newsagent Helen Williams asked how the council was going to fund the annual ongoing maintenance given it went ahead with Stage 1B of the project before selling or leasing five lots for the additional revenue needed to maintain the area.
“I’ve been advised it could cost up to $1 million in annual maintenance costs and the council was going to offset this by selling or leasing five lots but that hasn’t happened to date so how will they pay for it?” she said at the time.
