Stafford Street Water Tower Mural Project
06 September 2021
Warren Shire Council’s Stafford Street Water Tower Mural Project is soon set to come to life, with the mural’s sporting theme reflective of activities at the Carter Oval Sporting Precinct and Warren War Memorial Swimming Pool, near which the water tower is located.
With the concept designs completed by renowned artist Sam Brooks, the Stafford Street Water Tower mural is the first in Warren Shire’s Mural Program, with the artwork fully funded through state and federal government grants.
Warren Shire Mayor, Councillor Milton Quigley, says the sporting theme offers the perfect opportunity to signpost the newly redeveloped sporting facilities offered nearby.
“Following a recommendation from the Warren Public Arts Committee in July 2020, Council resolved that the Stafford Street Water Tower mural design would be based around the sporting activities offered at the nearby swimming pool, skate park, water park and on Carter Oval.
“This concept was widely reported at the time, including a feature on the front page of the Warren Weekly on 5 August last year, and the concept designs also received positive community feedback when on display during Local Government Week last month.
“Council endorsed the Warren Public Arts Committee’s final 3D mural concept design featuring swimming, cricket, soccer and skateboarding at our August 2021 meeting, and we look forward to seeing this mural be bought to life as a marker to the nearby sporting and recreational precinct and the activities it offers all residents and visitors to Warren,” says Councillor Quigley.
Mayor Quigley has also acknowledged the funding bodies that have enabled the mural’s development and adds that the fully grant-funded artwork has not been supported by any rate payer funds.
“The Stafford Street Water Tower Mural project is fully funded by the NSW Government’s Country Arts Support Program, the Australian Government’s Drought Communities Grant Extension Program and the Murray-Darling Basin Economic Development Program Round 3.
“I would like to acknowledge these grant contributions and reiterate that no ratepayer funds are being used for the mural project,” adds Councillor Quigley.
Warren Shire Council General Manager, Gary Woodman, says the Stafford Street Water Tower Mural is the first step in the development of public art murals across the Warren Shire and will undoubtedly become an attraction due to its unique identity on the mural trail.
“In addition to the sporting theme depicted, the mural concept designs developed by artist Sam Brooks incorporate both Wayilwan Country and Warren Shire in unique and interesting ways.
“The concept designs currently depict Aboriginal woman and Australian soccer player, Lydia Grace Yilkari Williams, and young Anglo-Japanese skateboarder, Sky Brown, as the base images for some of the athletes portrayed. The final mural will be changed to become unidentifiable people, but will still reflect our diverse and multicultural community.
“The complete mural covers approximately 60% of the upper section and around 70% of the lower section of the Stafford Street Water Tower, and the Bird’s Eye View Plan highlights how the images flow from one another as they move around the entirety of the tower to create an original and eye-catching landmark that is destined to become a talking point for both locals and visitors,” says Mr Woodman.
Sadly, artist Sam Brooks is unable to complete the mural due to illness and Warren Shire Council is now working to find another artist to collaborate on bringing these concept designs to life.
Mr Woodman says Council is also seeking community representatives to fill three vacancies on the Warren Public Arts Committee and continues to advertise for these positions, ahead of the development of other public arts murals in the shire.
“Unfortunately, the timing for the initial Stafford Street Water Tower Mural grant did not allow for Council’s standard community consultation process; however, Warren Public Arts Committee is a community-based organisation, with up to five community members providing input to both the Committee and Council on the Stafford Street Water Tower concept designs.
“We are continuing to advertise for interested community representatives to join this Committee, ahead of the development of more public arts murals across the Shire including the Nevertire Water Tower, as well as for public art on private property.
“These projects will be accompanied by a full community consultation program seeking comprehensive community input, as grant funding for these projects allows for this process to take place prior to completing final concept designs and we want as many residents as possible to contribute to the development of public art in our Shire,” says Mr Woodman.
Council will announce the appointment of an artist to complete the Stafford Street Water Tower Mural Project once this is finalised.
If you are interested in nominating to become a Warren Public Arts Committee Community Representative, written nominations can be submitted to Council by 4.30pm on Thursday 7 October 2021.
Please submit via council@warren.nsw.gov.au or PO Box 6, Warren NSW 2824. Applicants should note that all applications will be made public.
For further information, please contact Council’s General Manager Gary Woodman on 02 6847 6600.