The Gold Coast’s most controversial public art piece: what next for the silver ferns

THE silver ferns art sculpture which cost taxpayers almost $430,000 and put in storage after a community backlash is to be installed at a secret Gold Coast site.

THE controversial silver ferns art sculpture, which cost taxpayers almost $430,000 and was put in storage after a community backlash, is to be installed at a secret Gold Coast site.

A report to council confirms councillors have met in a closed session, discussed a confidential report and supported a new location “subject to endorsement by local traders”.

The Bulletin understands the four 11m metal structures will be removed from a council warehouse and installed near the Nobby Beach shopping precinct, beachside of the Gold Coast Highway.

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The silver ferns sculpture originally planned for Surfers Paradise.

The council has declined to comment because “the report remains confidential at this time”.

A council insider recalls how a competition was organised for a light rail art piece in 2013 and that “the art committee” and councillors backed the choice of the ferns.

“The councillors were in the lunch room,” the insider said. “They were all laughing about them being New Zealand ferns. Five minutes later the councillors voted and there was a majority vote.

“They were to go at the entrance of Chevron Island, the entrance to HOTA. And then it was the Esplanade (in Surfers Paradise) but everyone complained about them.

“Now they (the councillors) are talking about taking them down to the Magic Mountain at Nobby Beach.”

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The Urban Oasis public art commission was started in 2013 when the government provided almost $411,000 to the council to develop “public art outcomes along the light rail corridor”.

The original site was the intersection of Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Elkorn Avenue.

The council obtained $330,000 from the government, provided almost $81,000 for operation costs and another $17,500 from local area works.

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Planning for the silver ferns sculpture in Surfers Paradise.

The artwork was created by Irish artist Alex Pentek but there was an outcry about the expenditure when the ferns were unveiled in June 2016.

About 87 per cent of readers in a Bulletin poll said the artwork was not a good use of public money and likened the ferns to the symbol used by the New Zealand All Blacks.

Responding to the criticism, Surfers Paradise councillor Gary Baildon said: “I think the Kiwis will love it. Time will tell whether it was the right decision. I think the majority will like it.”

At a meeting in June last year, councillors voted to move the ferns from Surfers Paradise to the botanical gardens at Benowa.

The decision to use the ferns as a feature statement was based on the Coast’s “ancient botanical record and early city officer input to the artist”.

But at this month’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee, the minutes show Councillor Hermann Vorster moved a recommendation that was backed by Cr Baildon.

Southport-based councillor Dawn Crichlow asked that her vote be recorded in the negative as a majority of councillors backed the new location.

Southport councillor Dawn Crichlow has been a huge critic of the ferns. Photo: Jerad Williams.

Council’s Game of Ferns

. After the first stage of light rail is finished in 2013, the city is given almost $411,000 from a State Government Biodiversity Enhancement Fund.

. the idea is develop public art outcomes along the light rail corridor.

. Council commissions and spends almost $81,000 on a large scale public art project which is won by Irish artist Alex Pentek. The artist’s contract is worth $330,000.

. About $37,000 is spent by council on two sites in Surfers Paradise on site scoping and artwork upgrades. Officers looked at strengthening for wind resistance and location of a seawall.

. the artwork is then to be moved to the city’s botanical gardens at Benowa before being shifted back to a light rail site. Under Government funding, it must be 500m from the trams.