Earlier this year a group of local artists started a petition against the proposed clock tower works, claiming the chosen design was an eyesore and hadn't included formal discussions with the town's artistic community.

More than 200 people signed the petition, which was submitted to councillors at the end of January.

But it seems unlikely that work on the clock tower will be stopped, as councillors last month determined that the organisers of the project -- the Swan Hill Community U Committee -- followed the proper community consultation process while planning the upgrades.

The group held meetings with Lions, Rotary, Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women, Swan Hill College students and the general community last year over a 10-month period.

Swan Hill Rural City Councillor Greg Cruickshank said councillors' opinions about the design were irrelevant, but what was most important was that the Community U Committee took the appropriate steps to consult the community.

"My opinion is that there has been a process and that was followed," he said.

"A committee was given the responsibility of the task, they followed the due processes and there was extensive consultation."

A total of $57,000 has been raised by the committee, who will install promotional boards, illuminated banners, direction signs and an Aboriginal mosaic in the coming weeks. The tower will also be painted in maroon and have an Australian flag fixed on top.

Cr Cruickshank said recent debates over the clock tower, Swan Hill bridge and potential North Park development highlighted the importance of people having their say on local issues at public meetings.

"With everything that the council does, we are very conscious of giving people a say," Cr Cruickshank said.

"One of the problems with the country is that our laid back attitude can make us apathetic. A lot of people don't take the opportunity to join the conversation at any stage, and prefer to sit back and complain when it's all done."