Cr Sharon Griffiths raised at the September 15 ordinary meeting of council that there were concerns Zoetrope obstructed views of the river and surrounding reserve area and proposed the CEO find a more appropriate location for the sculptural piece.

Cr Griffiths said council also failed to go back to those it had originally consulted on the project to advise the initial proposal for a yarning circle on the site would not proceed.

Deputy mayor Lisa Intemann acknowledged parts of council's consultation was "flawed", however, the end result is a story-telling piece that is "beautiful, striking and spiritually important".

Cr Intemann said advice from the Aboriginal community suggested the public site was not appropriate for a yarning circle. Instead, it was agreed that Zoetrope as a sculptural piece was a better way to share the story of reconciliation and our region's shared history.

Members of the Bunyah Local Aboriginal Land Council were part of the reference group to help steer the decision making on the end result.

"Right now we have this sculpture - several tonnes of it has already been installed in this particular location. It would be a mammoth exercise in cost, effort (to move it) and is insulting to those who have been associated with the creation of it. There is no funding to move it - it would be at a cost to ratepayers," Cr Intemann said.

"The sculpture as it stands looks fabulous. It is definitely an interpretation of the Aboriginal experience, good and bad, it is an interactive sculpture - people can walk within it. It has movement in that the sculpture shapes change with the light as it changes.

"In my opinion it is not an imposing sculpture - it can be confronting, but then again public art is not always easy. It speaks a message."

Zoetrope is a sculptural piece at Rocks Ferry Reserve by local artist Stephen Gale.

It explores the theme of reconciliation. What is it? How can it be achieved?

"Without it, we have the scars of bitterness and regret weighing upon us. We attain reconciliation by listening, understanding, forgiving and embracing," he says of the piece.

"Zoetrope is trying to share with us a story; it starts 60,000 years or more ago, continuing uninterrupted to today and extending further into our shared future. Birpai elders speak this story in many voices.

"Each plate of this sculpture is a glimpse into the world and experience of our First Nations people. Much like the original spinning Zoetrope though, it is nothing more than a small glimmer of an immense and beautiful culture.

"It is my dream that Zoetrope aids you in your journey towards understanding the story, hopes and aspirations of our First Nations Peoples. They are waiting to embrace you."

Yapang Bila Yapun.yapun is the Birpai name given to the new Wauchope Bicentenary Riverside Sculptural Trail, winding its way along Rocks Ferry Reserve.

The project is funded with a $196,140 grant from the NSW government's Stronger Country Communities Fund.

The walk will depict the history of Wauchope with a particular focus of life on the river and encompassing Aboriginal as well as colonial history.

A reference group of local stakeholders informed project delivery and include representatives of the:

Council received an overwhelming number of responses from local and established artists from outside the region through a formal Expression of Interest program in 2020.

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