Revealed: What next for the Rusty Chook as councillors vote on Kirra Eagle
Councillors have voted on the Rusty Chook — the Kirra Eagle landmark on the Gold Coast.
Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
CITY councillors have unanimously voted to save Kirra Eagle or “Rusty Chook” after considering an option which would have cost taxpayers up to $500,000.
Mayor Tom Tate prior to the full council meeting on Tuesday indicated he was opposed to ratepayers paying up to $500,000 to the artwork which overlooks one of the city’s most favour surfing breaks.
Councillors have now voted to find a “steel restoration company” to renew the sculpture, with the search to be paid for by funds set aside for a Kirra Hill memorial plaque.
If the restoration is feasible and affordable it will be funded by the 2020-21 asset renewal budget.
Division 14 councillor Gail O’Neill gave a passionate address before the vote, calling on fellow councillors for support.
“I’m sure every southern Gold Coaster would appreciate this is going to be done,” she said.
“This is not just an artwork, and please don’t compare it to any other work in the city either.
“It’s iconic, Kirra Hill is iconic. All I can say is I ask councillors to support me on this.
“It’s an important thing for our area and for the Gold Coast if we can get it to stay and be restored.”
Mayor Tate said he was “very confident” the sculpture could be restored.
“We’ll have a good crack (at restoring it), it’s good value for money,” he said.
The Bulletin in an exclusive report had revealed council was considering three options after consultants found the eagle, which stands atop 4m twin steel beams angled into a concrete base, has less than five years remaining life.
The options for councillors were:
• Rehouse the sculpture at a cost of $20,000.
• Create a new sculpture at a cost of $500,000 which would take about two years to complete.
• Commission a replica at a cost of between $300,000 to $500000 which would ease community concern but create the need for ongoing maintenance.
A poll of Gold Coast Bulletin readers revealed opinion was split on the matter, with 45% favouring the first option and 43% voting to commission a replica.
Only 12% favoured replacing the Kirra Eagle with a new sculpture.
An exclusion fence has been installed around the sculpture due to falling pieces of steel.
Cr Tate preferred for council to reach out to the “business and philanthropic community” to get steel supplies and potential new structure.
Councillors at full council on Tuesday decided …
‘What the heck’: PSA for people thinking of getting veneers
Ann Wason Moore has issued a public service announcement when it comes to getting your teeth done as others say “people’s faces are really starting to scare me”.
Named: Man accused of parking meter mayhem
Paying for a car space is never fun but one man took things too far after allegedly smashing a number of parking meters in a northern NSW tourist town, causing more than $15,000 damage.