Arlene Mehan said she hoped the council showed leadership and heard the people's views on this matter.

The petition, which calls for the Edmund Barton statue to be removed from the Town Green, went public at the Black Lives Matter Rally in Port Macquarie on June 6.

The petition contained 4296 signatories 16 days later.

A report about the petition will go before Port Macquarie-Hastings Council's meeting on Wednesday, July 1.

Petition organisers say the statue is considered a homage to the atrocities against Aboriginal people as the result of colonisation and the enduring ideologies that perpetuate racism in today's society.

Edmund Barton was the founding father of the White Australia Policy.

The Town Green monument of Australia's first prime minister overlooks the Hastings River.

The Town Green is a known Birpai burial site.

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Mrs Mehan said she had been overwhelmed with support around the push for the statue's removal.

Her solution is to move the statue to a museum.

Mrs Mehan said a lot of education was happening around this social issue.

She said it was also an opportunity to boost understanding and for people to explore their knowledge of history.

Mrs Mehan said there would be continual offence to First Nations peoples in this area if the statue remained on the Town Green.

"For an act of authentic reconciliation, the statue needs to be removed," she said.

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The council report said the request to remove the statue had been made against a broader backdrop of national and international debate following the Black Lives Matter protests, which had prompted demonstrations against racism around the world.

A letter accompanying the petition requests that: "Port Macquarie- Hastings Council remove Edmund Barton statue on Town Green and in the spirit of genuine reconciliation that council move forward in partnership with the Birpai traditional owners to ensure that public spaces are culturally safe and reflect cultural inclusivity".

The council commissioned the sculpture from renowned artist Carl Merten in recognition of Barton and his role in "forging the nation" as part of the centenary of federation celebrations.

Petition organisers believe adequate consultation was not taken and the council ignored protests against the statue before it was placed at the Town Green.

The council report recommends that council note receipt of the petition.

Community members can watch the council meeting on YouTube from 5.30pm on Wednesday, July 1.

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