Werribee station too ‘filthy’ for public art, Wyndham councillor claims

A plan to install a public art installation at an “absolutely filthy” train station in Melbourne’s west would be a waste of money, according to a local councillor.

Installing public art at an “absolutely filthy” train station in Melbourne’s west would be a waste of money, a local councillor says.

Wyndham councillor Mia Shaw has urged the city to revisit plans for a public art installation at Werribee train station, which she says would be “a complete waste of ratepayers’ money”.

The comments came as Wyndham councillors unanimously voted to support a draft plan to spend $3.8 million over the next decade on public art installations.

Cr Shaw said she was broadly supportive of the plan, but wanted council officers to re-evaluate the station as a proposed place for public art.

“It is great to see the commitment this council is going to put into a public art plan,” she said.

“The only piece I don‘t support in this policy … is the Werribee train station installations.

“I think that would be a complete waste of ratepayers’ money, the Werribee train station is absolutely filthy. I think It would be a complete waste of time for us to do that.”

The council is planning to include a temporary installation at the station at a cost of up to $50,000 in the 2022/23 financial year.

The draft public art plan would fund 34 projects over a 10-year period, including permanent, temporary and pop-up installations.

Commuters at Werribee train station. Picture: Sarah Matray

At council’s ordinary meeting on May 24, creative city portfolio holder councillor Marcel Mahfoud said the plan sets out a “vision” for the city.

“Art is firstly a driver for events and visitor attraction, it makes public spaces more safe and engaging,” he said.

“Our vision is to develop a world class public arts program over the next 10 years.”

The council has identified the Hunter Werribee Building, Little River water tower, Watton St Riviere building, Werribee library, Wunder gym and the Werribee train station as potential sites to be delivered over the next few years.

Other locations being evaluated include the Derrimut Road underpass, Wyndham Harbour and rail and road sound walls in Point Cook, Williams Landing and Hoppers Crossing.

The draft Wyndham 10-year public art plan will be open for community consultation for a four-week period before it returns to council in July.

At the meeting, councillor Jennie Barrera highlighted an upcoming artwork at the Tarneit Community Learning Centre as an example of the proposed public art works.

“The work designed by Gunditjmara woman Dr Vicki Couzens is now permanently finished and it will be launched in time for Reconciliation Week,” she said.

“It demonstrates through this project the importance of maintaining mother-tongue language, it’s a public art work that reflects so much of Wyndham’s cultural and social history.”

The artwork will be unveiled at 11am on May 28.