During its celebration of two years of occupation of Thompson Square in its bid to persuade the government to build a Windsor bypass bridge, CAWB revealed its latest campaign weapon.
Community Action for Windsor Bridge members asked the crowd to turn around at its Saturday night party in the square, as the ‘CAWBmobile’ roared past and down the road in front of the Macquarie Arms.
CAWB’s Kate Mackaness said the vehicle meant they could literally take their battle to the streets.
CAWB president Pete Reynolds said the new van would be used to spread CAWB’s message that only a Windsor bypass represented real progress for the Hawkesbury.
The van’s paint job features slogans such as “Drive Progress. Bypass Windsor.” a message integral to the campaign.
CAWB’s party included blazing candelabras, a ‘rum tent’ dispensing free non-alco mulled wine, a lolly stall, and silhouettes and sculptures hinting at the square’s past.
Trees in the square were lit red and a massive spotlight, cleared with the RAAF and civil aviation authorities, added a theatrical magic to the evening.
‘‘For two years the team of dedicated community members has continuously staffed an occupation tent in Thompson Square in opposition to a project that will see the destruction of the oldest town square in Australia,’’ Ms Mackaness said.
‘‘The current plan represents a failure in strategic planning and will permanently cement the town’s current traffic woes.
‘‘The CAWBmobile is already out and about in the Hawkesbury and a schedule is being prepared for attendance at future events.’’
It’s expected to go further afield to locations such as Parliament House as well.