Ballina Shire Council has delayed plans for a $50,000 mural on the Lennox Head water reservoir after councillors questioned whether water rate revenue should be used to fund public art while residents face rising household costs.

In a split vote decided by the Mayor’s casting vote, councillors agreed to proceed with essential maintenance and repainting of the North Creek Road reservoir, but deferred the mural until funding becomes available through the council’s Public Art Fund.

The original proposal sought to allocate an additional $50,000 from the Water Fund to paint the approved mural, on top of $50,000 already budgeted for maintenance painting of the reservoir.

Cr Therese Crollick successfully moved an amendment to postpone the artwork while still allowing the maintenance work to proceed.

“I’m not against public art. Public art’s great,” Cr Crollick said.

“But I think this falls into the category of what we really need and what’s nice to have.”

She said the mural should eventually proceed, but argued it was more appropriate to fund it through the Public Art Fund rather than water reserves.

“I don’t think there’d be many people in the community who would be thinking that they’re paying their water rates and that’s going to put a mural on a water tower.”

Rates and water charges dominate debate

Cr Therese Crollick

Councillor Phil Meehan said he supported repainting the reservoir but opposed spending an extra $50,000 on the artwork while residents were dealing with higher rates and water charges.

“People have received their rates notices this week,” he said.

“The money has come from the water rate… the residents across the shire who have access to our water are in effect paying for the mural.”

He said a neutral colour would adequately protect the reservoir, with the mural able to wait until another funding source became available.

Council officers advised the maintenance repaint would be carried out regardless of whether the mural proceeded, with the base repaint costing about $50,000 and the artwork adding a further $50,000.

Supporters say funding already available

Supporters of the original proposal argued the Water Fund is a restricted reserve that can only be used for water-related infrastructure and had sufficient funds available for both the maintenance and mural.

Cr Eva Ramsey noted the concept had already been endorsed by council and the design work completed.

Councillor Erin Karsten said using the Water Fund was an appropriate use of restricted funds and pointed to evidence that public murals significantly reduced graffiti.

“If it’s a blank surface there is risk of graffiti and damage, whereas we know throughout the world that when murals are created… there is significantly less likelihood of graffiti,” she said.

General Manager Paul Hickey confirmed the Water Fund had sufficient reserves to pay for both the maintenance and mural, but also acknowledged council could choose to defer the artwork.

Cr Eva Ramsey

The amendment was carried on Mayor Sharon Cadwallader’s casting vote after councillors split 4-4. Once amended, the motion was adopted 5-3 with Councillors Cadwallader, Michelle Bailey,  Simon Kinny, Damian Loone and Therese Crollick voting for, and Councillors Eva Ramsey, Erin Karsten and Kiri Dicker against.

The reservoir will now receive its scheduled maintenance repaint, while the mural will remain on hold until funding is available through the Public Art Fund.

Comment: A $50,000 mural ratepayers could do without