Marree Man restoration: Pub owners Phil Turner and Trevor Wright won’t be charged by State Government

IT spanned 15 months, but the Environment Department’s controversial investigation into two pub owners who restored the famous Marree Man is finally over.

• The mystery around who initially created the Maree Man in 1998
• Then in 2016, the desert geoglyph returned!
• The Environment Department launched a criminal investigation ...
• Which dragged on. And on. And on ...
• Until the Libs vowed to scrap the witchhunt

TWO pub owners who rejuvenated Outback icon Marree Man say they have been vindicated by a decision not to lay criminal charges, despite an Environment Department investigation that found they illegally cleared land.

Environment Minister David Speirs told The Advertiser that charges would not be laid because 25 hectares of native vegetation was “regenerating”.

But he said an Enforcement Notice would be issued to prevent any further vegetation without formal government approval.

Marree Hotel owner Phil Turner and William Creek Hotel’s Trevor Wright, who masterminded the 2016 rejuvenation to boost tourism numbers, are celebrating the end of the lengthy and costly investigation and both have vowed to never take part in any future restorative work on the icon.

Marree Hotel owner Phil Turner in 2016 at the site of the Marree Man, where he helped restore the artwork. Picture: Tom Huntley

“This clears us of any wrongdoing as we had what we believe was approval from the Native Title holders (the Arabana Aboriginal Corporation),” Mr Turner said.

Tourists might have just four or five years to view the geoglyph before it fades again. Mr Wright and Mr Turner both categorically ruled out being involved in another rejuvenation.

“It’s been an extremely stressful time,” Mr Wright said.

“Any future rejuvenation would need to be determined by the appropriate people, but this little black duck is going to have nothing to do with it.”

The Marree Man as seen in April, 2017.

Phil Turner from the Marree Hotel re-creating the Marree Man with a tractor. Picture: Greg Dunstan

Mr Turner said he could “definitely” rule out having any future role in rejuvenating the Marree Man, even if asked to do so by the area’s Native Title holders.

“This should now pave the way for the SA Tourism Commission to get behind the Marree Man with a strong, co-ordinated marketing effort to realise the potential of what is — without a doubt — a significant asset in the Far North,” he said.

Mr Speirs said the State Government was “always open” to considering development applications but all official approvals must be obtained before work begun.

He said the Department could now get on with delivering the Government’s “comprehensive environmental policy agenda”.

The Marree Man, as seen from a NASA satellite in 1998.

“This investigation has dragged on for over 12 months and diverted departmental resources away from delivering practical environmental outcomes,” Mr Speirs said.

The famous 4.2km tall geoglyph — created by an unknown artist, although many suspect local eccentric Bardius Goldberg was involved — was first spotted from the air in 1998.

The original image began to fade noticeably early this decade, and was not able to be spotted on Google Maps prior to the rejuvenation.