Tennant Creek’s giant lizard sculptures miss election deadline
The plan to install two giant sculpted lizards at Tennant Creek’s Stuart Highway gateways will miss the Territory government’s 2024 election deadline – with one promised sculpture seemingly missing.
Northern Territory
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The plan to install two giant sculpted lizards at Tennant Creek’s Stuart Highway gateways will miss the Territory government’s 2024 election deadline.
The government had hoped the two nine metre-long nyinkka lizards would be in place by polling day, but only one of the reptiles is completed and the whereabouts of the second remains a mystery to all but a select handful of people.
Also known as the spiny-tailed goanna, the forged steel lizards were promised by former Tennant Creek resident and Labor leader Michael Gunner before the 2016 NT election.
Reclusive Gold Coast sculptor Steve Langton was commissioned by Barkly Arts to construct the lizards but the project stalled in 2021 and was eventually transferred to the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics.
In March 2022, the NT News reported a DIPL spokesman saying the project was “well advanced” and would be delivered to the town “in the second half of this year.”
Mr Langton’s precise whereabouts are not clear but the NT News has been told the government has had long periods when it was unable to make contact with the sculptor.
DIPL was tight-lipped about the project when questioned by the NT News last week.
Asked whether there was a plan for completion, whether DIPL had been in contact with the artist and to provide a project completion date, DIPL responded with a two-line reply.
“One nyinkka sculpture is in Tennant Creek, and the second is under construction by the artist,” a spokesman said.
“The department continues to work with the artist to deliver these iconic and recognisable entry statements which will welcome visitors to Tennant Creek.”
The sculpture project was underpinned by a $2m commitment from the Territory Labor government, which is understood to have to have blown its budget by at least $300,000.
Attempts have been made to contact Mr Langton.
Infrastructures, Planning and Logistics Minister Joel Bowden said the project’s lengthy delay was disappointing.
“Once completed and installed these sculptures and accompanying signage will be an iconic feature for the local community and drive visitors,” he said.
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Originally published as Tennant Creek’s giant lizard sculptures miss election deadline
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