Lizard saga comes to an end: Barkly mayor Sid Vashist slams CLP for changing 10 year project

The CLP Government has finally made its mind up about a controversial Tennant Creek project. Read what its chopped.

The mayor of a Territory town has lashed out at the NT Government for “selling-it short” after it re-scoped a town entrance project that has languished for under years.

The previous NT Labor Government committed in 2016 to construct two giant 9m nyinkka lizards to be positioned at Tennant Creek’s north and south Stuart Highway entrance.

But a contract dispute with sculptor Steve Langton saw the project delayed over a number of years as public officials tried to broker a solution to the impasse.

Too embarrassed to announce the project was a flop, the previous Labor government kicked the can down the road for years hoping for a result but the CLP Government this week drew a line in the sand on the project.

Declining to say how much the actual project cost, a spokeswoman for chief minister Lia Finocchiaro said while the lizards are complete, only one will be mounted on the Stuart Highway.

Steve Langton with one of the unfinished lizards

“The Tourism Entrance Statements located to the north and south of Tennant Creek on the Stuart Highway are primarily complete, with the exception of one nyinkka Lizard at each entrance point and the provision of landscaping, lighting and soft furnishing elements, “she said.

“The Artist contracted to construct the nyinkka Lizards has advised he is unable to complete the original scope of works under the contract … specifically complete the two nyinkka Lizards sculptures.

“The Department of Logistics and Infrastructure has come to a revised contractual arrangement with the artist whereby one sculpture is provided on an ‘as is where is’ basis. “This includes exclusive ownership to the Northern Territory Government to display, modify and commercialise the sculpture as it sees fit.

“Given the change from the original scope of works, the department is working through next steps in terms of location and installation requirements.”

But Barkly Regional Council mayor Syd Vashist said the decision short-changed Tennant Creek and called on the government to provide an explanation to the town for selling-it short.

He said Mr Langton had told him he had signed-away the rights to the lizards to the NT Government.

Barkly Regional Council mayor Sid Vashist. Picture: Facebook

“The artist is definitely heartbroken because the second lizard will remain with him, but I’ve been talking to the community here and they would love to see the two lizards in place,” he said.

“What has gone wrong here? It’s something that the town has been waiting for a long time and it goes beyond the amazing sculpture that has been delivered.

“It’s about the tourism story and the opportunity that comes with it and the two entry gateways, the northside and the southside, was going to complement the existing infrastructure that’s been put in with the beautiful ‘welcome to Tennant Creek’ sign.

“Having these sculptures installed, people taking selfies and it just promotes Tennant reek and the positive stories that this region deserves. I’m happy to take this fight on because we need to find out what happened.”

“This is taxpayers dollars that have been spent and the public needs to know.”

Mr Langton’s initial sign-on fee was $300,000 as part of an overall $2m package for the Barkly, but it’s not clear whether this remained in tact following the breakdown of the project.

In February, Mr Langton sheeted the project’s failures onto the Department of Logistics and Infrastructure.

“At present the department is kneeling on my throat, getting me to grant copyright that allows them to paint, or not display, the commissioned work.

“I’ve given the last six years of my life to this project,” Mr Langton said. “The department has ever changing staff and they just see me as another rorting subbie.”

Originally published as Lizard saga comes to an end: Barkly mayor Sid Vashist slams CLP for changing 10 year project