Garry Scott, Myocum
The ‘Disco Dong’ is structurally a piece of junk. It’s made of raw aluminium, which is a totally unsuitable material for any outdoor structure. In salt air, raw aluminium and pop rivets corrode very quickly, which is why raw aluminium is anodised or powder coated when used outdoors.
All those pop-riveted-on ‘bird ninja stars’ will soon be taking flight at considerable danger. It will be lucky to last any more than five years before needing to be removed.
Councillors are soon to debate whether to spend in the order of another $40k to finish the thing! Councillors, try to find any engineer willing to certify that it can stand safely for any longer than five years.
A vote to spend another $40K to finish it is a vote to spend another $40K to remove it in the very near future. That is in the order of $120K for what was proposed to be made out of stainless steel, with no engineering certificate, no community consultation, that will be lucky to not be a safety hazard within five years.
Clearly most of us hate it for a multitude of reasons. Yes, a few people want to defend the ‘artist’ and the art committee, and a few think art that causes dissent is good. This is no Blue Poles!
Councillors, you have the opportunity to put this folly down as an unfortunate mistake and not throw any more of our good money after bad. In its present state it’s worth something as scrap metal and can be recycled. In five years time it is will be nothing more than junk/landfill.
Councillors, it’s time to both listen to and represent the wishes of the ratepayers, not defend an out-of-town artist who has been paid or a committee’s mistake.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
