Marlburians confounded by phantom fountain

Once upon a time, in a fiefdom not so far away, a fountain once featured majestically at a waterfront greenway. Denizens and travellers marvelled at the view while crossing the bridges spanning this boardwalk.

Then, the fountain was gone – no water feature, no water bursts, just a mound of water weed marking the spot. Years went by, and while newcomers did not miss what they had never seen, multitudes lamented the loss.

A fairy tale? No. A story with a happy ending? That remains to be seen. Marlburians with memories of Riverside Park’s fountain have organised a petition with hundreds of signatures which they plan to present to Council on Monday. They seek a solution – or at least answers – to a lingering mystery they feel has them in the dark.

The epicentre of the effort is Raupō, the restaurant overlooking the Taylor River there. Like clockwork, Manager Jade Davies can count on customers asking what happened to, or what’s happening with, the fountain. She has asked Council. She has asked a councillor.

She and Raupō director Jugal Kishore hope the petition yields more responsiveness. As of Friday, they had 350 signatories. They will keep collecting through the weekend.

“This summer, Raupō is 18 years old, so we’ve seen it at its best and we’ve seen it at its worst,” Jade said, looking out from the patio. “Because we’re on the riverbank, we get the community feedback, because they’ve also been coming here for 18 years and seen the change, seen how it’s not as it should be.”

Along with aesthetics, safety is a concern. The boardwalk has eroded in parts from rising and receding stormwater. Repairs appear as patchwork pieces of wood affixed atop existing timber. The focus is the fountain, though.

“We’re not naïve; we know the work that needs to be done,” Jade said. “But before summer, before the busy season, would be perfect.”

Added Jugal: “This is a community gathering place. It has to come to life again, the way it was before.”