Bayside Council’s Small St makeover offers seating with views of a car park
Bayside residents are losing it over a bizarre installation in a Hampton street that they say proves the ritzy postcode next door gets a better deal.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Bayside residents are fuming over a street makeover that encourages them to “enjoy the ambience” of a car park and rubbish bins.
They say the $37,000 project is further proof that the local council neglects their suburb in favour of ritzier neighbours Brighton.
Bayside Council, which has a long history of splashing cash on public art including an $85,000 sculpture of oranges and a $55,000 painting that looks like a deli price list, has just commissioned painted dots on a Hampton footpath.
The installation includes wooden planter boxes and seats that offer views of a car park and the aroma of industrial sized rubbish bins.
The adjacent Sandringham line provides a soundtrack for anyone using the seats.
Dr Adam Steen, who lives nearby, said residents were “dumbfounded” by the installation,
“It’s baffling,” he said.
“What’s the point of it? Are we supposed to sit and enjoy the ambience? The only views are of a car park.”
He said the project was “yet another example” of the council prioritising Brighton and Sandringham at the expense of Hampton.
“This wouldn’t happen in Brighton,” he said.
“We’ve had so many services stripped out of the area and when the council does spend money, it’s wasted on projects that don’t make sense.”
Dr Steen said his rates had almost doubled over the past five years and he couldn’t see how the money was benefiting his suburb.
He said the council would have been better off using the money to fund a public gym on the foreshore, just 250m away.
Hampton street trader Jane Packer said while she applauded the council for “having a go” the installation was the wrong idea.
“If people wanted to sit on the street they’d go to the cafe a few metres up the road,” she said.
Ms Packer who owns Paperboy Coffee Bar with her partner, said customers “were not fans” of the seats.
“Everyone has had something to say about it and I haven’t heard many positive comments,” she said.
The cafe has been advocating for bike racks and water fountains in Hampton Street.
“So many people have dogs but there’s no facilities to give them a drink,” Ms Packer said.
“And bike racks would encourage more people to cycle.
“That’s the sort of thing people want to see their rates spent on.”
Bayside Council said the project was designed to help “beautify and activate” a “disused footpath at the end of a cul-de-sac”.
A spokesman said the initiative was part of a “placemaking strategy” for the municipality which included “small streetscape interventions” with projects in Black Rock, Sandringham, Seaview and Beaumaris.
“The purpose of the strategy is to activate economic activity and foster community engagement,” he said.
The council did not confirm how much it had spent on the Small Street work.
The spokesman said information about the work was shared with neighbouring businesses and residents.