A potential colour change is in the works for a $1.25 million sculpture designed to resemble a waving hand (or, depending on who you ask, French fries) at the entrance to Burnie.
Locals from across the north-west have raised concerns about the controversial state government-funded sculpture in recent weeks after it won a selection process with just 80 votes late last year.
Taking to social media, Burnie Mayor Teeny Brumby said it was “clear” to her that the colour of the Gateway Design was a “very important” issue to the community.
“We are well beyond the stage of a change in design and it will go ahead regardless. I am, however, not convinced we can’t reconsider a colour change,” she said.
“I’m hearing on the ground many in our community would like to see the colour changed to blue to represent our ‘City by the Sea’ theme.”
Brumby then revealed that she, along with other city councillors, “favoured the colour blue”.
Support for the blue gradient colour scheme quickly garnered 1,000 votes through the Mayor’s Facebook page, while only nine individuals backed the original yellow.
The council are understood to be in line for potential financial penalties of up to $500,000 for any delays in the project, meaning the permanent instalment of yellow “French fries” in the city may still go ahead regardless.
