A PETITION against the proposed design of the redeveloped Swan Hill clock tower has been signed by more than 200 people.
Earlier this week, a group of local artists began a petition to stop the project from going ahead, claiming the clock tower design does not look "aesthetically pleasing" and is not "representative of the region".
The proposed design would see the clock tower painted in maroon, with an Aboriginal mosaic, promotional boards, directional signs, LED screens and an Australian flag all fitted by the end of February.
Swan Hill Rural City Council last month voted to approve the design, which had been put together by local business Academy Graphics at an estimated cost of about $57,000.
The model presented to council was not an exact replica of what will be produced, but included all the basic concepts that are expected to be in the final design.
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The redevelopment of the clock tower has been co-ordinated by the Swan Hill Region Community U Committee, which is run through the Bendigo Bank.
And in a letter to the Community U Committee, one of the petition's organisers, Lorri Lambert, said the artistic community was upset they were not consulted when the project was in the planning stage.
Ms Lambert also said the new design was too commercialised and did not take into account the historical nature of the clock tower.
"We request that you halt any further work on this project until a more thorough consultation can be conducted," she wrote.
Visual artist and graphic designer Louise Macaulay said the clock tower should be considered as "a cultural art piece".
Ms Macaulay unsuccessfully put forward her own clock tower design to the Community U Committee, but said her protests had nothing to do with sour grapes.
"It's tacky and it's an eyesore," she said of the proposed design.
"A fair way to do it would be to bring art, culture and history on board."
However, Community U Committee member Peter Beardsley said the elements of the clock tower design were "99 per cent complete", and there would be no major changes to the concepts in the plan.
"We respect their views however the issue is that this process with the clock tower has been ongoing for nearly seven months. We've been extremely active by way of community consultation," he said.
Mr Beardsley said the committee had spoken to community groups including Lions, Progress and Rotary as well as Aboriginal representatives and Swan Hill council when developing the tower plan.
Mr Beardsley confirmed that there was no formal approach made to the art gallery.
"Where do you draw the line? It's really important to note we are not creating a piece of art. If we were setting out to create a piece of art, then our first point of call would be the art gallery," he said.
"If they wanted to create an artists' piece, well they could have done that during the last 10, 20, 30, 40 years, but they have done nothing."
Mr Beardsley said the committee had publicly advertised their meetings with the community organisations, so he was surprised people were only speaking up now.
He also said the petitions people had signed had erroneous facts and lacked background information.
Mr Beardsley was quick to dismiss suggestions that the main purpose of the redesigned clock tower was for advertising or commercialism.
Instead, he argued, the LED screens were about promoting not-for-profit organisations like Murray Downs Golf and Country Club, Lake Boga and the Pioneer Settlement.
A Swan Hill Rural City Council spokesperson said the petition would have to be presented to the next council meeting before formal moves to stop work on the clock tower could be considered.
If the petition is put forward, project officers would complete a report with recommendations and return it to the following meeting where councillors would decide the next step.
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