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Water tower mural design sparks community outrage

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A bitter stoush has erupted over a proposed water tower mural at Yerong Creek with the community labelling the art work as garish and cartoonish.

A deputation to Lockhart Shire Council’s March meeting pleaded for a replacement design, with their petition of 100 signatures and suggestions passed on to a selection committee and a decision was due to be made this week.

Yerong Creek water tower
The proposed mural design for the Yerong Creek Water Tower has been labelled as too colourful, busy and cartoonish by residents. Photo supplied

Residents were “insulted and angry” over the short consultation time frame on a design already endorsed by Council.

Lockhart councillors heard at the December meeting community consultation had taken place over five days face-to-face at Yerong Creek.

Council received 42 separate feedback forms, plus those from Committee members.

The painting of a high quality, large scale mural on the Yerong Creek Water Tower is one of a number of projects nominated by Council for funding under the Australian Government’s Drought Communities Programme Extension grant.

An Expressions of Interest document was prepared in consultation with the Yerong Creek Progress Association inviting proposals from selected artists.

Three artists responded to the four broad themes on transport, education, sport and agriculture, with two designs submitted last September.

A selection panel was established comprising representatives of Council, Riverina Water, the local community and Eastern Riverina Arts.

The Yerong Creek residents were consulted in relation to the two designs and feedback was also sought from members of Council’s Tourism and Economic Development Steering Committee.

The feedback obtained from the community and TEDSC members was provided to the selection panel when it met in December to review the designs.

Council endorsed the selection panel’s preferred design for the mural in December.

Yerong Creek resident Shayne Collins said the water tower murals at Lockhart and Milbrulong were tasteful, simplistic and blended in with the surrounds.

Mr Collins said the resident’s views on the proposed mural for Yerong Creek were not disrespectful to the artist Heesco.

“Yerong Creek, being the oldest village in the shire has a rich history and some interesting characters ranging from Mad Dog Morgan to Gunning Plunkett,” he said.

“It also had a strong Chinese presence through the early years with the remnants of dams and other construction carried out during their time here still evident in some places.

“Surely worthy of consideration for possible themes, alongside our strong agricultural industry – past, present and future.”

Mr Collins said Council had invested a great deal in the Shires heritage conservation areas.

“Yerong Creeks main street, Plunkett Street, is a strong example of that.,” he said.

“That said, the main part of Plunkett Street is on the junction of the road where this tower is going to be painted with bright colours and cartoon characters. Surely not a visually acceptable “blend”. “

Mr Collins said the community felt simple changes could not be made to the mural to make it less colourful, busy and cartoonish.

“If only in-depth community consultation had been done at the start we probably would not all be faced with this quandary,” he said.

The residents worked with graphic designer and former Yerong Creek resident Holly Willis to present an alternative concept design to Council.

Lockhart Shire Council general manager Peter Veneris said this latest round of consultation has resulted in a petition being submitted to Council with approximately 95 signatures expressing concern the design in its current format was not reflective of the village of Yerong Creek and calling for more community input in to the final design.

Mr Veneris said in addition to the petition Council also received individual submissions both in support of and against the proposed design.

“The Council received the petition and listened to the presentation and agreed to convey the petitioners’ concerns and the feedback received from the individual submissions to the Selection Panel for review,” he said.

Narrandera Argus 1 April 2021

This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 1 April 2021.

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