No maintenance budget for Gunnedah's serpent renewal project

Gunnedah Shire Council will set aside up to almost $80,000 to repair the damaged rainbow serpent water fountain but stopped short of committing to an ongoing maintenance budget siting an existing warranty for the work.

Council had already allocated a budget of $17,530 in May 2025 to review the art installation outside the Civic Theatre which had fallen into disrepair. The fountain symbolises the traditional Gamilaraay/Gomeroi/Kamilaroi story of the Rainbow Serpent.

This month council also endorsed $27,640 in funding to meet a 50 per cent co-contribution requirement, pending the outcome of a grant application for repairs.

If the grant application was unsuccessful, council also approved an allocation of $78,280, excluding GST, from General Fund Unrestricted Cash to enable the project to be completed.

Additionally, council staff recommended an allocation of up to $20,520 be set aside for annual maintenance and servicing of the restored Rainbow Serpent Fountain feature.

An amendment to remove the maintenance budget was moved by councillor Robert Hoddle and seconded by councillor Juliana McArthur.

The motion to withdraw the maintenance budget was approved by all councillors with the exception of deputy mayor Kate McGrath and councillor Linda Newell. Councillor Tammey McAllan was absent.

Cr Hoddle said the amendment was put forward with a view that any maintenance required would be covered by the repairer’s warranty.

“It’s not that we don’t want to maintain it,” he said.

“We expect it will come with a warranty.”

The councillor said the restoration project had the full support of colleagues. Cr Hoddle said he would support council tipping in more funds into a maintenance budget in the future but for now, did not believe the expense was necessary.

The 600mm high, elevated concrete water installation is located outside the information centre and theatre on Chandos Street.

Five years since the fountain was installed in 2020, the serpent’s mosaic tiles are showing signs of wear, primarily due to its west facing position and exposure to the elements.

A report to council said the water feature’s use as a walking platform, seat and table for equipment has also accelerated tile deterioration.

Tiles have on occasions been deliberately ‘picked at’ and removed, the report added.

To remediate the fountain and preserve the artwork’s longevity into the future, council sought grant funding under the ClubGrants Category 3 Fund to assist with the project.

The serpent fountain was designed by nine women in the Kamilaroi Women’s Group who created a total of 29 individually handcrafted glass mosaic artworks that are approximately 500mm in diameter. These artworks explore and reflect traditional motifs, totems and stories.

The artwork has won several awards including the 2020 Local Government NSW Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Cultural Award and the 2021 Australian Street Art Awards in the category of Best Rural Art.

The serpent is depicted on other artworks in Gunnedah, including stone sculptures at Pensioner’s Hill.

The reverse side of the Red Kangaroo sculpture at the lookout depicts the Rainbow Serpent.

These sculptures were created in 2012 by renowned sculptors Carl Merten and Joan Relke, with input from local Aboriginal elders Mick Horne and Ron Long.