Astute readers of the Tribune may recall that two years ago, almost to the day, the Trib announced the same news, about the same piece of artwork, to be erected in the same place. 

So what has happened?

In 2014, Councillors agreed to pay $4950 for Mel Lyons’ piece, 'Forgotten 2004', which uses mangled car parts to represent flowers in a structure about three metres tall. 

The Public Art Committee chose the artwork by former Yass High student Melanie Lyons, and recommended it be erected next to the Barton Highway. Members of the committee felt that, as well as being a great piece of public art by a young local talent, 'Forgotten 2004' conveyed a powerful road safety message important to many in the Yass Valley.

"Cars are a significant part of Australian society, they speak of freedom, independence and speed, and tragically they can also speak of grief. Yass was the place of my youth, a highway town where cars rule. The grief was a close friend killed in a car accident. Flowers are a symbol to remind us of those we have lost," Ms Lyons told the Tribune at the time.

The hitch was that Council also advised… “The recommendation to purchase the artwork is subject to a structural engineering assessment report to assess the structure for safety and stability and recommended strategies to improve any identified issues.”

Two years later, the Director of Planning reported again to Council. While acknowledging the many benefits of public art, the report recommended the artwork not be purchased, citing the cost of installation as a major obstacle.

“A structural assessment has indicated that the stems of the sculpture do not have adequate structural capacity to be erected safely at a location along the Barton Highway. Strengthening measures need to be undertaken.”

Those measures are estimated to cost an additional $7000 over and above the cost of purchase, meaning the total cost to purchase and install the sculpture would be around $12000. Ongoing maintenance is estimated to be in the order of $500 per year. 

While a Community Art Reserve was established in 2013, there are currently no funds within the reserve. There are also no funds in the Operational Budget for the acquisition, modification or installation of the artwork.

However, a life-line for the project was floated in the report.

“A possible source of funding could be a portion of the Southern Phone dividend. Last year the dividend was $37,000 however notice has not been received that a dividend will be issued this year… The purchase and installation could be subject to receipt of the Southern Phone dividend provided it is sufficient to meet the estimated costs,” the Council report states.  

Councillors did not react well to the suggestion that they walk away from the purchase.

“We decided we wanted to purchase something with our eyes wide open as to the costs involved in installing this,” Cr Jasmine Jones said. “There is a purpose to this, the mayor has rallied around championing the sculpture on the Barton Highway. We need to commit to this; buy this.” 

“The whole idea was to purchase a local piece of artwork,” Cr David Needham said. The idea kind of got hijacked into the Barton Highway campaign. Let’s buy it for the support of the local artists. We made a commitment and should stick to it.”

Councillors then resolved to proceed with the purchase of the ‘Forgotten 2004’ sculpture and to investigate alternate funding sources for its installation and location.