Clover Moore’s Canned Cloud Arch sculpture multimillion price tag revealed

How much is too much for a non-existent artwork? City of Sydney’s dumped Cloud Arch has cost more than $2 million.

Is $2.2 million the highest price tag ever for an artwork that doesn’t exist?

The much derided public sculpture Cloud Arch — dubbed a “tapeworm” — was supposed to be erected opposite Sydney’s Town Hall at the same time as the light rail project.

But now the light rail has been finished, council officials concede there’s no future money in the budget to fund the estimated $22 million Cloud Arch.

An artist’s impression of the Cloud Arch.

That’s despite already having spent $2.2 million of ratepayer money on it.

According to Labor candidate for City of Sydney Lord Mayor Linda Scott the George Street artwork was meant to have its footings installed at the same time as the light rail, but that never took place.

The wasted money comes on top of $199,138 down the drain as a result of the “Milk Crate” artwork planned for Belmore Park that was also ditched by Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

Cloud Arch, a ribbon-like sculpture designed by Junya Ishigami, was originally meant to cost $3.5 million, but climbed to an astronomical $22 million after delays caused by the light rail construction.

Labor candidate for City of Sydney Linda Scott has questioned the spend on the non-existent Cloud Arch. Picture: Supplied.

It was meant to be part of a revamp of the space around Town Hall, but relied on light rail builders Acciona to give access to the road so footings could be installed at the same time.

That was never forthcoming, so the 58 metre tall structure went into limbo.

In response to official questions by Ms Scott, the City of Sydney chief executive Monica Barone revealed the $2,215,709 price tag for the artwork which was never built.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore looks towards a scale model of Cloud Arch, at her original announcement in 2014.

“Cloud Arch has been deferred, the contract closed out and the artist and head contractor informed,” Ms Barone said.

The money was paid for “site investigations, technical studies and engineering and artist fees”.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore won’t say if she is definitely scrapping the controversial sculpture, or might at some point go back and dig up George Street again. Or simply find a new site for it.

An updated design for Cloud Arch outside Sydney Town Hall, which was supposed to be built by March 2019.

But a council spokeswoman said council voted to defer Cloud Arch in 2018 to a point “after the construction of the light rail had been completed and the feasibility of incorporating the artwork into a future Town Hall Square project could be considered, noting funding for Town Hall Square would need to be considered in future budgets”.

“No funds have been allocated in the budget approved in June 2021,” she said.

Ms Scott, who wants to build quality public art if she’s elected mayor in the September elections, says the money could have built several “pocket parks”.

The “Milk Crate” that was given the flick cost ratepayers $199,000.

“It’s disappointing to note that, of the three major CBD public art works committed by the current Lord Mayor, two have cost our community millions of dollars but progressed no further than a sketch,” she said.

“If elected Lord Mayor, I’m committed to progressing a new Sydney Square, with a significant element of new CBD public art.”