Disappointing vandalism – that’s what Liverpool Labor councillor Anne Stanley calls plans for the removal of the “unique’’ war memorial in the Macquarie Mall opposite the entrance to Westfield.
It is part of multi-million dollar proposals to open the pedestrian mall to cars after hours, but Cr Stanley says it looks like council has not thought it through.
“The opening of the mall means that Liverpool’s cenotaph will be one of the things that will have to go to make way for traffic,” Cr Stanley said.
“I find this particularly disappointing vandalism given we are currently commemorating the beginning of World War I and the centenary of the landing on Gallipoli in April 2015.”
The Voice asked the council what would happen to the war memorial and other issues, and its chief executive officer, Mr Carl Wulff provided answers.
“Council is in discussions with the RSL and the artist about the relocation of the war memorial to a more appropriate site,’’ was Mr Wulff’s response in regard to the cenotaph.
The cenotaph was dedicated on December 2, 1994 by the then NSW Governor, Peter Sinclair.
It is the work of artist Lisa Anderson.
“It is a significant and unique memorial piece of work which commemorates the fallen men and women in war,’’ Cr Stanley says.
“The bottom of the ‘broken’ stem acts as a sundial at the 11th hour on the 11th month (Remembrance Day) casting a shadow that reunites the top part of the broken stem,” she explained.
“The artist herself is quoted as saying it is an interpretation of extraordinary acts of bravery, mateship, friendship and strength of ordinary people during war. There are stories and quotations embedded on the columns, with spirals of white crosses.
“It was designed to be poignant and unique and given Liverpool’s [military] history a relevant memorial.’’
Cr Stanley’s stance comes in the wake of a council decision at its last meeting to vote to allocate $1 million towards the project, including consultancy fees.
“While an upgrade of the Mall would be welcome, this further million dollars adding to the significant amounts already spent could have been put to better use reducing our infrastructure backlog, providing bus shelters, footpaths and fixing roads,” Councillor Stanley said.
“It could end up costing us about $4 million for a piece of road that’s just 200 metres long, when we have roads full of potholes but council says it has no money to fix them. These roads are more in need of money to fix them than the Macquarie Mall.’’
Mr Wulf also responded to the following questions from the Voice on the Mall plans:
Where will the children’s play area and the giant chess board be moved to?
The exact location of the children’s play area and the chess board will be determined once the detailed designs have been finalised. The designs are due before the end of the year. Concept plans have been available on Liverpool Listens and the website for the past six months.
Can you confirm that the fountain will be dismantled as part of the proposal?
Yes. The fountain has been in the mall for 20 years and is now deteriorating due to its age. However, we do recognise that it has been in the landscape for a long time and is a prominent feature of the mall. We will be talking to the artist about opportunities to retain or relocate some aspects of the fountain sculptures.
Will the entire project cost between $4 and $5 million for a 200m strip of road?
Once the detailed designs have been received Council will be in a better position to determine the costs through the Quantity Surveyor’s cost plan for the works. The project will:
· Declutter and improve sight lines, including the removal of the fountain and relocation of the war memorial
· Create a one-way 10km/h shared zone at night to stimulate the night-time economy
· Retain the chess set
· Create a new children’s play area
· High quality paving and street furniture
· Overhead feature lighting
· Improve outdoor dining shade areas.
But Councillor Stanley says council seems to have also forgotten one other piece of history:
“The whole thing was designed with Governor Macquarie’s statue up on the rise in the southern end in the corner with Scott Street, looking down on Macquarie Street, including the Mall, and seeing the people of the town he founded doing their thing, shopping, eating, children playing, adults playing chess or having a chat.’’
“disappointing vandalism” is a bit strong for the relocation of piece of modern sculpture with no real attachment to the location. Don’t get me wrong i don’t think the councillor is prone to too much political opportunism, but its probably better to wait and see what is proposed before we start using those terms to describe the potential move.
i tend to think there would be better places to put such a sculpture and we can’t really say it had anything to do with Macquarie down at the other end of the street. Maybe a better spot would be around Bigge Park or in front of the RSL, even in the new forecourt of The Memorial School of Arts , all those areas would be more respectful than and appropriate than where it currently sits in front of the entry to Westfield.
Im all for the mall being improved for the users and the shopkeepers alike.