The "ugly white fence" at the Forsyth Barr Stadium site in
Dunedin could soon be home to a giant mural, if the Keep
Dunedin Beautiful group has its way. Photo by Gerard
O'Brien.
The white fence guarding the Forsyth Barr Stadium site
could be turned into Dunedin's largest work of art in an effort
to ward off graffiti and vandalism.
Dunedin City Council staff and members of Keep Dunedin
Beautiful are seeking resource consent for the project, which
is yet to be approved.
The idea would see individual fence panels - from the Water
of Leith to Leander St - used as the canvas for a series of
colourful murals.
Keep Dunedin Beautiful co-ordinator Darlene Thomson said
schools, community groups and individuals would be invited to
apply for space to paint on the fence. The murals would be
separated by panels showing information about the project,
and required safety notices, but aimed to turn the eyesore
into an "art wall", she said.
"It won't be one mural. It will be loads and loads of murals
done by different groups.
"People respect that [art], so it won't be graffitied. Let
them paint to their hearts' content," she said.
The idea had been jointly developed by Keep Dunedin
Beautiful, Taskforce Green and Dunedin police last month, and
Carisbrook Stadium Trust staff were "very receptive", she
said.
Potential artists would have to submit their ideas to Keep
Dunedin Beautiful for approval, and comply with set rules,
she said.
"It has to be art work and it has to be non-offensive. There
can't be any words on it at all.
"The idea is it should be a thing of beauty, rather than this
ugly white fence," Mrs Thomson said.
Council resource consents manager Alan Worthington confirmed
an application was being considered by a council planner with
input from an urban designer.
It was likely to be processed on a non-notified basis, with a
decision released next month, once the New Zealand Transport
Agency - responsible for the nearby State Highway 88 - had
been consulted, he said.
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