Yerong Creek water tower art mural proposal divides residents, progress association

Yerong Creek is split over a bright artwork proposed for the water tower in the centre of town, which supporters say would be a tourist draw-card but opponents have slammed as "garish".

At the Lockhart Shire Council meeting on Monday, resident Shayne Collins presented a petition opposing the artwork signed by 95 of the town's approximately 170 occupants.

The design was chosen by a selection committee whose members included representatives from council, the Yerong Creek Progress Association, Eastern Riverina Arts and Riverina Water, which owns the tower.

The progress association successfully secured a grant for the mural through drought relief funding, which was due to expire on June 30.

Mr Collins said he and his supporters had enlisted another, local artist to come up with alternative design that he hoped the selection committee would consider.

"It's hard to say at this stage what will happen but I think the biggest problem is the funding runs out so whatever happens it's got to be fairly expedient," he said.

"The only hope that I've got is the selection panel taking into consideration the amount of backlash and discontent with that artwork."

Mr Collins said residents would "rather see the water tower in the undercoat " than have the first artwork painted on it.

Mayor Rodger Schirmer said there was a possibility the artwork "may not happen at all" but that he would prefer both the community to "give a little ground on both sides" and come to an agreement.

"I have no doubt that parties from both sides may or may not be disappointed but council won't make the decision, council will only endorse the decision by the panel," he said.

"There was a fair bit of angst about the Lockhart tower too when it was proposed to be painted and now I think everyone thinks it's a marvellous addition to the town."

Yerong Creek Progress Association president John Holstein said his group would wait to see what the selection committee decided and that he didn't want to comment further on the matter at this stage.