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Gold Coast councillors divided, but vote in favour of funding replica of Kirra Eagle, or Rusty Chook

The Rusty Chook – or at least a version of it – will remain in place above the streets of the southern Gold Coast after a stunning council vote, but the cost is a mystery.

Gold Coast M1 lights

The Rusty Chook – or at least a version of it – will fly again, after a stunning council vote.

But it will be a replica, and the costs remain unknown after councillors discussed a confidential commercial report in closed session.

Southern based-councillor Gail O’Neill in a passionate speech on behalf of residents who love the heritage sculpture on Kirra Hill, gained just enough support from colleagues at full council to go to tender for a replica.

Councillor Gail O'Neill at City Hall. Picture: Glenn Hampson.
Councillor Gail O'Neill at City Hall. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Council will move to an invitation to offer process to selection a tender, and once plans are completed a decision will made to make R T Peak Memorial park a place of cultural heritage significance.

Councillor O’Neill said she had not in her time in local government witnessed such a strong level of support on Facebook pages to retain a community heritage piece like the Kirra Eagle.

She urged councillors not to get into a debate about the cost of public art, but look at the Rusty Chook as a historic piece.

Kirra Eagle. Picture: Catherine Wiggins.
Kirra Eagle. Picture: Catherine Wiggins.

“It was heartwarming to me. It proved to me I was standing up here doing the right thing. I think the Kirra Eagle must fly again,” she told councillors.

Councillors were provided with two engineering reports which showed the Rusty Chook, after 40 years on the headland, could not remain for safety reasons.

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates spoke against funding a replica. Costs remain confidential but the Bulletin understands options could involve up to $500,000 of ratepayer money.

Northern colleague William Owen-Jones also spoke against the motion, acknowledging southern residents had “emotional attachment” to the Rusty Chook but his ratepayers maintained a similar connection to their rate bill.

Those councillors voting against the replica were Cr Gates, Cr Owen-Jones, Glenn Tozer and Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden.

Councillors supporting the funding backing Cr O’Neill include Pauline Young, Daphne McDonald, Hermann Vorster, Darren Taylor, Peter Young, Brooke Patterson, Mark Hammel and Bob La Castra.

Rusty Chook: ‘It’s moronic to save a metal bird’

Earlier: Some residents are warning councillors it will be “moronic” to spend half a million dollars of their ratepayer money replacing a metal bird, as they vote to save the Kirra Eagle.

The Bulletin in a report had revealed how councillors at full council meeting on Tuesday would meet in a closed session to look at options to reduce the cost of securing steel to replace the 40-year-old Rusty Chook on Kirra Hill.

The Kirra Eagle. Picture: Destination Gold Coast.
The Kirra Eagle. Picture: Destination Gold Coast.

Labrador-based councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden on his Facebook page referred to the newspaper report, which detailed the concerns at City Hall that the art heritage renewal project could spark another $2 million Yatala lights fiasco.

“The Kirra Eagle – expensive? Yes. Cool? Sure. Heritage significance? Questionable. Unique? Far from it,” Cr Bayldon-Lumsden wrote.

The city’s youngest councillor asked his residents “how much is public art worth to you”.

“It’s about how council spends money — 1000 more mature koala trees planted in the wetlands, two more homeless support officers employed for two years, upgrading school crossings on four schools,” he said.

Councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden is questioning the cost to ratepayer. Picture: Glenn Hampson.
Councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden is questioning the cost to ratepayer. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

A female resident posted: “Who cares about a silly rusty bird that’s been there 40 years. It’s had its day so just pull it down. Don’t waste more money on something that has no benefit to anyone. Spend it on something that will actually help the community and environment.”

Another resident was more blunt saying councillors should direct the funds to help the homeless as “opportunistic” landlords raise rent prices.

“This kind of question just seems wilfully blind and in my opinion moronic for the council to even consider, how about we work towards the survival of every person on the Gold Coast. Instead of a replaceable metal bird,” he wrote.

But area councillor Gail O’Neill, backed by Kirra residents on her Facebook page, remains committed to saving the memory of the metal eagle.

Councillor Gail O'Neill – passionate about saving heritage art. Picture: Glenn Hampson.
Councillor Gail O'Neill – passionate about saving heritage art. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

She said it was “devastating” to learn it was unsafe to leave the Kirra Eagle out in the open and her aim was to find a way to save it or replicate the art work.

“It is extremely disappointing that someone leaked information (to the Bulletin) from a confidential report coming to council shortly,” Cr O’Neill wrote.

“The Kirra Eagle stood on Kirra Hill for almost 40 years. Its heritage significance is undeniable. If it can’t be restored successfully it should be replicated and installed in the exact same spot.

“Of course cost needs to be considered but I am sure this does not have to be a hurdle that cannot be overcome. Be assured I know the heritage importance of our Kirra Eagle and that is what I will be fighting all the way for.”

Some residents called on council to discuss the sculpture item in open session

“Without reports and facts, without transparency, people are left to assume there is something to hide. Distrust grows as what little heritage we have is fast disappearing,” a resident wrote.

Brendan Shanahan on Kirra Eagle. “Kirra Hill is a place with views all the way to Surfers and in between. Looking up isn't bad either.”
Brendan Shanahan on Kirra Eagle. “Kirra Hill is a place with views all the way to Surfers and in between. Looking up isn't bad either.”

Cr O’Neill in a response wrote: “Confidential reports usually contain ‘commercial in confidence’ issues that may include estimates, commercial tenders or contracts and or budget considerations. Once a report is dealt with in council the CEO can release the non-confidential parts of the report.”

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Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/council/councillors-and-residents-divided-about-500000-cost-to-save-kirra-eagle/news-story/59a940b4bcfc97df28039cbaf7f1fe5c