Sherwood Residents Fuming Over Abandoned Park

Frustrations are running high in Sherwood following a controversial decision to abandon Cactoblastis Corner, a small but ecologically valuable riverside park. The park was severely damaged during the 2022 floods, and despite passionate community efforts to restore it, the site was deemed “too complex and costly” to repair.



Photo Credit: CrNicoleJohnston

Cactoblastis Corner was created after a community campaign on the old Alan Fletcher Research Station site. It was home to significant mature native trees and served as beautiful parkland and a vital part of the local drainage system.

After the floods, the park experienced a significant landslip, which left it neglected. Despite the Queensland Reconstruction Authority approving $17 million for repairs in April 2023, the council abandoned the park, allowing it to revert to unallocated state land.

Photo Credit: CrNicoleJohnston

This decision sparked outrage among residents. Cr Nicole Johnston has criticised the lack of transparency and its decision to hand the problem back to the state.

Ms Johnston has contrasted the council’s inaction on Cactoblastis Corner with its efforts to restore flood-damaged Kedron Brook on the northside. She has described the decision as “appalling” and “a disservice to the local community.”

To find a solution, Johnston has written to Major General Jake Ellwood, CEO of the QRA, and state member Mark Bailey, seeking assistance in delivering a remediation plan. However, the future of Cactoblastis Corner remains uncertain, and the site may continue to sit in a derelict state for years to come.



The decision to abandon has raised questions about its commitment to managing and maintaining parklands, particularly those affected by natural disasters. It has also highlighted the challenges of balancing repair and remediation costs with the community’s needs.

Published Date 29-August-2024