XN000022-1978-08-12 — Page 3

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 1978

COUNTRY PARK FACILITIES MEET LOCAL STANDARDS

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THOUSANDS OF FACILITIES IN COUNTRY PARKS HAVE BEEN ADAPTED TO SUIT LOCAL NEEDS, THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, MR. J.M. RIDDELL-SWAN SAID TODAY.

HE SAID THE COUNTRY PARK AUTHORITY'S TASK WAS TO PROVIDE THE RIGHT KIND OF FACILITIES IN SUFFICIENT NUMBERS AT PLACES WHICH WOULD BE CONVENIENT FOR THE USERS OF COUNTRY PARKS, BUT WHICH WOULD NOT SERIOUSLY DETRACT FROM THEIR NATURAL BEAUTY NOR LEAD TO THEIR DAMAGE OR DESPOILATION.

MR. RIDDELL-SWAN WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE YOUTH COUNTRY PARK FACILITIES DESIGN EXHIBITION, ORGANISED BY THE PENINSULA JAYCEES AT THE LAI CHI KOK AMUSEMENT PARK.

HE SAID TO DATE, THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY HAS PROVIDED A WIDE RANGE OF FACILITIES WHICH INCLUDE 92 PICNIC PLACES AND 158 BARBECUE PLACES WHICH CONTAIN 2,042 PICNIC TABLES OF FOUR DIFFERENT DESIGNS, 1,782 BARBECUE GRILLS, 1,742 BENCH SEATS IN TIMBER AND STONE AND 46 SETS OF CHILDREN'S PLAY APPARATUS. THERE ARE ALSO TWO VIEW COMPASSES, 16 INFORMATION DISPLAYS, 370 CAREFULLY DESIGNED SIGNS TO ASSIST VISITORS AND 36 RAIN SHELTERS. AND THERE ARE MORE THAN 20 MILES OF FOOTPATHS REGULARILY MAINTAINED BY THE AUTHORITY.

MR. RIDDELL-SWAN SAID THE INCREASING POPULARITY OF THE COUNTRY PARKS COULD BE MEASURED BY THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF VISITORS FROM 323,000 IN 1972-73 TO ALMOST 3.5 MILLION IN 1977-78 +WHILST THE CONTENTS OF 2,900 LITTER BINS AND THE 1,120 TONNES OF LITTER COLLECTED LAST YEAR TESTIFY TO THE HEAVY UŠE MADE OF THE PICNIC AND BARBECUE FACILITIES PROVIDED.+

+THE TASK OF PROVIDING PARK FACILITIES IS VIRTUALLY NEVER- ENDING, BUT IT IS ONE WHICH IS CHALLENGING IN ITS SCOPE FOR INVENTIVENESS. THESE FACILITIES SHOULD BLEND WITH THE SCENIC SURROUNDINGS AND MEET THE RECREATIONAL TASTES OF LOCAL PEOPLE YET BE CAPABLE OF SOME FORM OF MASS PRODUCTION IN ORDER TO KEEP COSTS DOWN,+ SAID MR. RIDDELL-SWAN.

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