Opinion
12 September, 2026
Welcome to Tulip Time — mind the holes
So, if you were running the local council, you would have the place looking spit spot, wouldn’t you? Yes, that’s a deliberate one Mary!
Tulip Time is underway. For a few short weeks, around 80,000 people will jump on a train, car, or bus and come to the Southern Highlands.
Remember Seinfeld and the postie Newman? He famously said to Elaine, “One winsome tulip we ceaselessly yearn for throughout our dreary, workaday lives! And you, my friend, have found your angel”.
So, if you were running the local council, you would have the place looking spit-spot, wouldn’t you? Yes, that’s a deliberate one, Mary!
Or would you have the main street of Bowral looking like a bomb site? Holes and fences everywhere.
For me, I would think those in charge would have the place looking beautiful, with businesses encouraged to get into the spirit.
However, what I have seen over the last few days should come as a shock to every one of us. Fences and holes along the main street of Bowral; shops have access issues, pedestrians are at risk, and valuable parking spaces are gone!
One of the holes in the footpath appears to be crumbling near the intersection with Banyette Street. The hole is dug under the footpath, leaving the footpath thin and seemingly close to crumbling.
Let’s hope we don’t have a tourist falling into a hole due to footpath failure. Now that will grab attention!
None of this is criticism of the workers who take instruction and do what they are told.
This is about those with their hands on the lever, perhaps a broken lever, but nonetheless with their hands on a lever.
The economy is not going well; small businesses are struggling. Tulip Time should see the registers blooming for local businesses.
Why on earth would council make a decision to undertake works to the main street pipes during Tulip Time? No one has said it’s an emergency.
Why? We have a choice between incompetent leadership, or? or? I’m not quite sure what the ‘or’ is.
What has council actually done to encourage local businesses to get into the spirit of Tulip Time? I don’t mean one or two social media posts; I mean what have they actually done?
True leadership would be working with businesses and community groups to really welcome tourists to the Highlands.
If you think, oh, Tulip Time, it’s just for the oldies with a tea bag and a thermos, you would be wrong. Council next week will consider a strategic review of Tulip Time. What’s within the review will come as a surprise.
Tulip Time was started by the Rotary Club in 1961. Council has since taken over the management, and it’s very, very rewarding.
In 2023/24, Tulip Time had a net operating result of $180,125 and $324,591 in 2024/25. But here’s the thing: last year Tulip Time had a net operating result of $793,767.
Nearly a $1 million result! Bloomin' marvellous!
Where has that money gone? Hopefully not into digging holes on the main street! Some of that money should go into helping local businesses and community groups in our towns and villages to grow Tulip Time. If we can make nearly $1 million in a few weeks, let’s go for $2 million, then $3 million, etc.
Rate Rise? How about a Tulip Rise!
The person within council who managed Tulip Time last year- bravo to you; you are a commercial genius and should have been promoted. You more than doubled the operating result year to year.
Alas, that person is no longer with council; maybe someone was threatened?
The strategic review that council will consider next week consists of about 30 pages. I’ll give you the tip: nowhere in that strategic review does it say, “don’t dig holes all over the main street of Bowral.”
Serenity now, serenity now!
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The writer's wife is a councillor by way of disclosure, but not involved in this piece.
Read More: Southern Highlands, Bowral