Tennant Creek welcome sign yet to eventuate after five years, $300k over budget

The Territory government is taking steps to shutdown ­embarrassment associated with its bungled and long-overdue Tennant Creek gateway project.

UPDATE: THE Territory government is taking steps to shutdown ­embarrassment associated with its bungled and long-overdue Tennant Creek gateway project.

The NT News reported this week the project, first flagged by then Opposition Leader ­Michael Gunner in 2016, is still not finished and is at least $300,000 over budget.

The Northern Territory government is understood to have resumed contract negotiations with the artist selected for the significant “entry statement” project, which features two 9m nyinkka lizards, at the northern and southern entry points into Tennant Creek on the Stuart Highway.

The two parties are understood to have split last year over issues relating to payment and the lack of an identifiable project brief.

Artist Stephen Langton ­returned to Queensland in late 2020 and more recently is ­believed to have been a victim of the east coast floods.

Mr Langton was using a space provided by Barkly Arts and is said to have logged 7000 hours on the project, often in oppressive 50C heat at all hours of the day and night.

“Steve was amazing. He put everything he had into the project and anybody who saw him at work would understand the dedication and devotion he had to the project and to making it as spectacular as the town and the tradition ­deserved,” a source said.

A source was critical of the lack of consultation with the local Waramungu people about the lizards’ design. The nyinkka is part of the Waramungu’s sacred stories.

Mr Langton engaged with Traditional Owners and adapted the lizard design at their suggestion.

Asked for an update on the project, a Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics spokeswoman said the lizards would be in place in the second half of the year.

“The nyinkka lizard sculptures are well advanced and will be delivered in Tennant Creek and provide an iconic and recognised entry statement to welcome visitors to the town in the second half of this year,” the spokeswoman said.

“The project will stay within the $2.3m budget allocation.”

The NT News has been told a DIPL bureaucrat proposed replacing Mr Langton with a TAFE class but the plan was abandoned when it was realised such a move would compromise the project’s outcome. The department did not deny this when a clarification was sought.

It is understood TAFE ­instructors asked to consider taking on the project said they would not be able to match Mr Langton’s build quality.

“The department has only ever worked with Barkly Arts and the artist on this project,” the spokeswoman said.

Tennant Creek welcome sign yet to eventuate after five years, $300k over budget

A SIGNATURE Tennant Creek “entry statement” project – announced by Michael Gunner during his 2016 election campaign – has still not been completed more than five years later and has blown its budget by at least $300,000.

The project consists of two “entry statements” located on the southern and northern Stuart Hwy approaches to the town.

A key regional election promise by then opposition leader Michael Gunner to his home town, the project was formally granted $2m in “new entry statements” funding by then Barkly MLA Gerry McCarthy.

The election promise, which was underpinned by a $2m cash commitment gifted by the Labor government in 2017, has been plagued by limited oversight, cost blowouts, a motorised pushbike crash and artistic contemplations.

Despite cash and time blowouts, the government is confident the project will eventually be completed – although it hasn’t specified in what form.

Labor’s political opponents say the self-described can-do government in Australia’s so-called comeback capital can’t even manage to erect a couple of “Welcome to Tennant Creek” signs.

People close to the project are hopeful the landmarks will be completed – but aren’t holding their breaths.

“It’s going to take a lot of compromise and persuasion to complete the project,” one said.

“It’s quite possible it won’t ever be completed.”

Steve Langton giant lizard.

Steve Langton's giant lizard segment.

The project centrepiece comprises two spectacular nyinkka metal sculptures located at the southern and northern Stuart Hwy approaches to the town.

The two nyinkka – also known as a spiny-tailed goanna – were fashioned out of forged steel and are each a whopping 9m in length.

Tennant Creek art co-operative Barkly Arts was awarded the tender to produce the massive sculptures and the job was given to Queensland sculptor Steve Langton, who embraced the project.

Supporters of the project said Mr Langton was “amazing”, working long hours in stifling heat often above 50C and labouring tirelessly to get the nyinkka details exactly right. After consultation with the local Warumungu people, Mr Langton changed the design to include spikes on the lizards’ tails to keep in line with local Indigenous beliefs.

“Steve was amazing. He put everything he had into the project and anybody who saw him at work would understand the dedication and devotion he had to the project and to making it as spectacular as the town and the tradition deserved,” one supporter said.

Mr Langton has been contacted for comment.

The project stalled when the artist pranged a motorised pushbike he had made in Tennant Creek and was laid low recovering for several months.

But a real hurdle came when he contacted an interstate foundry, which advised the $300,000 he had accepted as payment for the project was well below what he should have been paid.

Mr Langton is understood to be back in Queensland and has told friends he would need further funds for materials and three months to complete the lizards.

The giant lizards are currently in pieces at Barkly Arts and could be installed, except that one of the sculptures is incomplete, with its head not finished. Member for Barkly Steve Edgington said the lizard debacle reflected Tennant Creek’s low priority in the Gunner government’s pecking order.

“The entry statements are just one of a number of projects the Gunner government has bungled in Tennant Creek,” Mr Edgington said.

“It’s just not good enough and the people of the Barkly deserve better.”

The project was transferred to the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics.

A government spokesman confirmed the project cost had blown out from $2m to $2.3m but was otherwise going swimmingly.

“The Northern Territory government is delivering iconic tourism entry statements in Tennant Creek to welcome visitors to Tennant Creek,” the spokesman said.

“The entry statements are located on the southern and northern Stuart Highway approaches to the town.

“In October 2018, local Indigenous enterprise Barkly Regional Arts was awarded the tender to construct the sculptures for the entry statements.

“Work on the nyinkka sculptures is well advanced, and the department continues to work with Barkly Regional Arts and the artist to finalise completion of the sculptures.”

Originally published as Tennant Creek welcome sign yet to eventuate after five years, $300k over budget