Port Macquarie-Hastings Council plans to relocate a 'rejuvenated' John Oxley Memorial to a new site as part of the 2018 John Oxley bicentenary celebrations.
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The decision was made at council's December meeting.
That caused an outcry from the community with many commenting on the decision on the Port News' Facebook page and website.
And that was noted by Councillor Rob Turner at the December 13 meeting.
"I note the unrest over the removal of the Oxley Memorial," he said.
"However, I am happy to also note that, through working with council staff, we will get the memorial relocated to another more favourable site.
"The memorial (which was overlooking Town Beach) was on a busy street, where there was no footpath nor was it part of the doctor's walk (Coastal Walk).
"It was certainly not in a good place for people to stop and take it all in."
Cr Turner suggested relocating the memorial to 'where it can be better appreciated and get more foot traffic'.
His fellow councillors agreed.
In the report tabled on Wednesday night, council proposed to provide an inclusive opportunity to the entire Local Government Area to participate, commemorate and celebrate their place as part of the 2018 Bicentenary.
It was certainly not in a good place for people to stop and take it all in.
- Cr Rob Turner
"There will be additional planning for the 2021 program," the report said.
"It is proposed that council support and facilitate local community groups to develop and deliver a program of events that reflects the diversity of cultures and places across the LGA and also implement a number of projects to commemorate the bicentenary.
"The proposal identifies activities and projects which will require a commitment council and the community to deliver.
"Funding opportunities will be sought to help offset this investment through various grant programs, however council funding opportunities to support community events are also identified."
Council resolved to,
- provide in principle support to projects that mark the 2018 John Oxley Bicentenary;
- set up a bicentenary working group of the cultural steering group (BWG) to assist with the strategy, the organisation and the implementation of the bicentenary program;
- enable the ad hoc participation of suitably qualified persons (relevant experience and expertise) onto the BWG;
- request the BWG provides regular reporting to council through updates via the CSG;
- workshop alternative wording for the draft Bicentenary logo with the BWG;
- establish a new line item in both the 2017/18 and 2018/19 Operational Plans – bicentenary activities;
- re-allocate GL 41433 ‘WW1 and ANZAC Commemoration’ with a current budget of $43,856 to ‘bicentenary activities’;
- transfer $80,000 from the cultural reserve to bicentenary activities;
- approve a dedicated bicentenary grants stream from the current community grant budget; and,
- note that the John Oxley Memorial previously located at Town Beach is currently being rejuvenated for the John Oxley Bicentenary and, once complete, will be relocated in early 2018 to a new site in the vicinity that has significantly better pedestrian access.
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