Shire’s $200k spend on Rosebud sculpture divides community
THE latest piece of public art on the Mornington Peninsula has been unveiled — but not everyone is happy with the council for spending a six-figure sum on it in one of the poorest suburbs in Victoria.
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THERE has been a swell of anger from the Rosebud community after the shire sunk $200,000 into a sail sculpture at the gateway to their township.
Some have called it attractive art; others say it is a financial farce.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Waste of cash or welcome addition? Tell us below.
The structures that make up the sculpture are known as Sails and Helix Wave and are made from recycled Rosebud Pier wood.
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They are part of a $5.45 million combined Mornington Peninsula Shire and State Government project called Destination Rosebud, aimed at “reinvigorating the township”.
Other plans include streetscape upgrades, plazas, a village green, barbecues, new pavements and Jetty Rd improvements, with preliminary works already started.
The shire is kicking in $1.3 million, with the state contributing $4.15 million.
It is the first time the shire has supported a sculpture of this size and cost.
When the Mornington Peninsula Leader asked locals what they thought, value for money was a common theme.
Roy Smith said the design was “representative of Rosebud” but very expensive.
“I like the attractive theme, but am not sure it should have cost that much,” he said.
Lisa Sommers said it was “a bit unusual” and “not a very good idea to spend so much money on a sculpture”.
Another local said he was “sure the tourists will like it but we shouldn’t have had to pay for it”.
Social media was also divided, with many posters on Facebook lamenting the lack of local involvement — the artists were not from the Peninsula — and the cost of the project.
Shire arts and culture co-ordinator Jane Alexander defended the work, saying it linked the commercial strip with the foreshore and nearby amenities.
“The sculpture celebrates the history of Rosebud in an exciting and contemporary way,” Ms Alexander said.
“It makes a particular aspect of the history of Rosebud highly visible and fosters a sense of place and connection.”
Cr Antonella Celi said the sculpture “creatively captured the historical aspect of Rosebud and I look forward to seeing it enjoyed by our locals and visitors alike”.
According to ATO figures, Rosebud and neighbouring Rosebud West (now Capel Sound) are among the poorest suburbs in the state, with average incomes of about $40,000 a year.
