‘Left to rot’

DAMAGED: Mark Weaver said it is not good enough the historic artifacts were left to rot with no maintenance.

A CONCERNED Port MacDonnell citizen has criticised the Council for not maintaining historic artefacts at a rest stop in town.

The stop on the corner of Lighthouse Road and Smiths Road in Port MacDonnell has a historic wheel and cart on display, along with a sign about the artefact’s history.

The artefacts pay tribute to the town’s 1860 construction boom when bullocks were used to cart goods around the area. It is unclear exactly how old the artefacts on display are.

The area, nearby to the ocean and petrified forest, is open to the wind and elements, and the condition of the artefacts appears to be deteriorating. A wheel has fallen off the main kart, and rotting is evident on both items.

Port MacDonnell resident Mark Weaver has called out the Grant District Council for not looking after the artefacts.

“This is Australian history,” Mr Weaver said.

“For something so special from our past to just be left to rot like this is not acceptable.

“It looks like the wood was never treated. When you leave wood out in the elements you must treat it.”

Mr Weaver said despite living in Port MacDonnell for six years, he only found the area by accident earlier this year.

“Not so long ago I suffered a heart attack, my doctors said once I get well enough, I would have to start walking,” he said.

“Once I was walking when I was going past, I noticed there was something here, so I came and had a look, that was how I discovered it. I was mortified.

“It just looks like an overrun bus stop when you are driving past, like there is nothing here.”

Mr Weaver has been in discussion with the Council on what can be done.

“They never seemed to put in a budget for people to maintain them or weed the area,” he said.

Council chief officer Darryl Whicker said now staff are aware of the problem, a process will be taken to investigate the best options going forward.

“One we found out we have put it into a customer request,” Mr Whicker said.

“It is in probably in a decaying condition, we will be investigating if it is salvageable in terms of community project, or if it will need to be removed.

“That will be based on amenity value, the cost of restoration and public safety.”

Mr Whicker confirmed council staff have not been undertaking maintenance of the artifacts. The outcome of the request will start to be known in the coming weeks.

“It has not been identified as a dramatic urgent risk that needs immediate intervention,” Mr Whicker said.

“If we are going to refurbish it, then it will be a community project via a men’s shed or something similar.

“Those things take time.”

Mr Weaver said it would be a shame if at the end of the investigation the artifacts were removed.

“I think it would be horrific [if they were disposed of],” Mr Weaver.

“The Council spent a lot of money on doing all of this, and then because of their own neglect, to then just say ‘stuff that money we are just going to throw it away’ I think would be horrible.”