The IMAG-NE sculpture which took pride of place on the Tascott waterfront for almost six years has been removed by Central Coast Council, with dozens of people taking to Facebook to protest and a petition to save the sign established at change.org.
Council announced last week it has decommissioned the sculpture and removed it in the interest of public safety.
“Since its installation in 2016, the sculpture has been popular with locals and visitors who interact with the artwork and take photos,” a spokesperson said.
“The artwork has also been exposed to harsh weather and vandalism.
“Council’s contractor has assessed the damage and found that the sculpture posed a community safety issue.
“The letters of the sculpture are cracked and chipped and may fall if pushed.
“Repair of the sculpture is not possible.
“The artist, Emma Anna, understands that the artwork is now a safety issue and agreed to decommission the artwork.
“She had always considered that the materials used would have a short lifespan.
“We hope the community have enjoyed seeing and interacting with the sculpture over the years.”
But many community members aren’t prepared to take the decision lying down.
Comments flew on Facebook following the sign’s removal, some supportive of Council’s move, but most agitating for its repair and return.
“So many of us have taken photos, meet at, watched the sunrise, or simply admired the giant scrabble IMAG_NE sculpture on the Tascott/Koolewong foreshore,” one post said.
“The Council has now decided that OUR sculpture is a threat to public safety and has taken it away.
“There are no plans to restore or return the IMAG_NE sign; it is gone.
“Simply taken away to ‘keep us safe’.”
There were many calls for Administrator Rik Hart to listen to ratepayers and bring the sculpture back.
One person suggested if Council can’t deal with upkeep of the sign, it could be donated to a community or arts group that can.
“The rusted picnic shelters nearby are more of a safety issue,” one person wrote.
Another suggested Council commission a replacement from the original artist, Emma Anna.
“IMAGINE if we had democratically elected councillors to represent US, rather than a government appointed bureaucrat there making decisions,” another post said.
But not everyone was unhappy the sing was taken away.
One post defended Council, saying it was a case of “damned if you do, damned if you don’t”.
“So let me get this straight, complain because a withered dangerous sign is removed for safety reasons and yet if it was left there and something happened to someone dangerous, hurtful or life threatening they would sue the Council because of neglect and not removing it because it WAS a safety issue?” the post said.
A petition launched at change.org to save the sign has so far attracted 323 signatures (at February 18).
Terry Collins