Public to have their say on $80,000 artwork for Elsternwick Park South

Bayside Council wants to spend $80,000 on a “landmark for the area” at a Brighton park but it needs inspiration. And while some people have provided feedback, others say their rates should be spent on services, not “clutter”.

Bayside Council is seeking feedback from the community on the type of sculpture they’d like to see at Elsternwick Park. Some have called for the artwork to be similar to ‘Summertime’ at Brighton Beach, by Anne Ross.

Plans to spend $80,000 of ratepayers’ money on a sculpture for Elsternwick Park South have already divided the community.

Bayside Council is seeking feedback on the proposal, which includes commissioning an artist to create a “landmark for the area” near the corner of New and Head streets.

It comes after the council in August voted to spend $55,000 of public money on a painting resembling a deli price list.

Residents are invited to have their say on the type of artwork they’d like to see at the park, with suggestions so far including a life-size model of children playing, indigenous art, and a sculpture which shows the connection between land and sea.

Bayside Council splashed $55,000 on this painting earlier this year.

Di wrote on the council website: “I like the idea of it being something you can walk through or around — interactive for kids and adults”.

“The dog statue on Brighton Beach … wearing goggles is wonderful,” Jan wrote.

“Maybe that artist could do a similar statue of a dog with a leash and some other quirky thing to symbolise the dogs and their owners walking in Elsternwick Park.”

But others have told the council the money would be better spent on other things, including upgrading the skate park.

“No-one comes to this park in search of art. The park is fine as it is, the skate park is full in summer, however, and could be expanded to cater better for kids and adult users,” Nathan said.

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Anne wrote: “One of the pleasures of having parks and gardens in our municipal (sic) is the quiet enjoyment of natural surroundings.”

“Spend our rates on planting trees and gardens and their upkeep, not on clutter that detracts from the natural beauty of the park,” she said.

“Instead of spending money on an artwork in the quietest part of the park, spend the money on expediting the already agreed use of one of the ovals in Elsternwick Park South as a football oval with change rooms suitable for both males and females,” Royce said.

“Return park to ovals as sculptures will be vandalised,” Neil wrote.

Bayside Council community and customer experience director Bryce Craggs said feedback provided during the consultation process would inform the artists’ brief.

“A selective tender process will be implemented for the project and a number of criteria will need to be addressed as part of the procurement process,” he said.

You can have your say via the council’s website until midnight on October 13.

Artists will have the chance to put their hand up to create the sculpture during a public tender process later this year, with the sculpture due to be installed be June 2020.