Lismore appears determined to stamp its claim as the centre of the Rainbow Region by installing a pedestrian crossing or another rainbow structure in the central business district.
Greens councillor Adam Guise had lodged a notice of motion to this week’s meeting calling for a rainbow crossing to be installed.
It would act as a tourist attraction and celebrate the city’s diversity and cultural heritage.
But because of safety concerns raised by the NSW Roads and Maritime Authority, Cr Guise hedged his bet by amending the motion to include other structures … but he believes a crossing remains a possibility.
The motion gained the support of seven councillors, with Crs Gianpiero Battista, Nancy Casson and Greg Bennett voting against.
Cr Eddie Lloyd was absent.
The push followed the installation of a temporary rainbow crossing in Oxford Street, Sydney, which was created as part of the 35th anniversary celebrations of the Sydney Mardi Gras.
That crossing was removed because of safety concerns, but its removal led to community protests and internet activism.
Pictures of chalk rainbow crossings from many places around the world appeared on social media including Paris, Shanghai, Pretoria, Thailand and Cambodia … and Lismore.
Cr Guise told Echonetdaily that the amendment would allow ‘other structures, image or pavement treatments’.
‘I’d like to see something interactive like a pavement treatment.
‘We have shared pedestrian areas in Magellan and Carrington streets which can be confusing to motorists so why not a rainbow painted on the road?’
The Council’s manager of assets Scott Turner has said that staff had consulted the Roads and Maritime Service about installing a rainbow crossing.
The response was not positive.
‘RMS has indicated that installation of any pedestrian facility needs to be in accordance with the relevant Australian Standard,’ Mr Turner said.
‘The objectives of these standards is to ensure consistency and uniformity in their installation and use and therefore avoid confusion and potentially unsafe interaction between pedestrians and vehicles.
‘A rainbow style pedestrian crossing does not meet relevant standards.’
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