An Oamaru man is seeking help to complete a series of carved tree trunks at Friendly Bay that have proved to be a big attraction, particularly for children.
In 2013, five large macrocarpas next to the steampunk playground were scheduled to be felled for safety reasons, but Oamaru businessman Alan McLay convinced the Waitaki District Council to leave
tree trunks about 6m high.
His idea was to have them carved, and already more than $30,000 has been raised and spent for Picton artist Peter Laggan to create birds of the forest, birds of the sea and animals of the sea on three trunks.
Now, Mr McLay is aiming to raise about $11,000 to complete carving of the remaining two.
At this stage, some ideas have been discussed with Mr Laggan about what would be carved, but no decisions made.
However, it is hoped to have Mr Laggan come back in the spring and complete the remaining two to coincide with the biennial Oamaru stone-carving symposium in November.
The funds will be raised through the Friendly Bay Bridge Restoration Trust, which Mr McLay established when he and volunteers restored the wooden overhead railway bridge.
The trust has also raised money to carve the trees and lay a concrete path around the playground, which has the names of people who donated money to fund it.
Mr McLay said people, families or businesses who donated $250 or more to carve the existing and remaining trees would have their names recorded on a plaque engraved by Crombie Monumentalists.
However, people could give any amount towards completing the project at Berry and Co or the ANZ Bank.
The trees completed so far feature individual animals and birds and children have great delight naming them.
Each carving has been coated with a special sealant to protect it from the weather.
