Bathurst Regional Council launched a survey earlier this month calling for public input on the future of the park that has long been crying out for a little TLC.

Council has also engaged consultants Integrated Design Group (IDG) to lead the study into future options for the park and, we are told, all options remain on the table.

Council copped some flak for engaging what is primarily an architectural firm to lead the study as some – including the Friends of Centennial Park group – feared that might mean a decision to build on the site had already been made.

Already, though, we have heard loud and clear from posters on the Western Advocate Facebook page that people want green space retained in the city and favour a less is more approach for Centennial Park.

But posting to our Facebook page won’t be enough.

It’s one of the regular criticisms of all levels of government that they are out of touch with the community.

But that should never be the case with local government.

Council is by far the most representative tier of government and is the tier of government that is closest to the people.

Local government deals with the issues that most directly impact people’s daily lives – the old rates, rubbish and roads – and it is your local government representatives that you are most likely to see in the local shops or at the local park.

For all that, though, people are quick to criticise those who have been elected to make decisions but those same people can be slow to offer alternatives.

And that’s why it’s important for everyone interested in the future of Centennial Park to speak up now.

Completing the survey will only take a few minutes but your input could have a profound impact on the future of the park.

Here we have a case of council going directly to the people to ask what they want and so it is up to the people to respond in droves.

It doesn’t matter if you agree with the proposals put forward by others or have ideas of your own, council needs to hear about them.

The public cannot complain about a lack of consultation if it is not willing to take part in consultation when invited. It’s easy to criticise but much more helpful to contribute.