COMMUNITY leaders have urged Chewton residents to reunite after a contentious public art debate that split the town of 1300-odd people.
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Multiple Mount Alexander Shire councillors have spoken out after what they portrayed as unnecessary comments about a Chewton artist hoping to erect a 2.15-metre tall wooden statue that would be visible from the main street.
The artist had asked the council's permission to install the sculpture of a woman holding a picture of a miner and said it would portray the town's mining history.
It will join a number of other works already installed including one of an 1850s miner and former resident famed for her culinary skill.
Yet community debate on the new statue encompassed far more than planning questions and shire officers have previously rejected claims that pieces were being installed by stealth.
Councillor Rosie Annear was among elected officials unimpressed by comments some residents made about the artist when objectors, supporters and shire officers met.
"It boiled down to the merit of the person," she told a separate council meeting on Tuesday night.
"I think that that is something that should not be brought to council. I found that upsetting."
Councillor Stephen Gardner, along with mayor Tony Cordy, hoped Chewton residents might think about ways they could work together to avoid future divisions over the sculptures.
Councillors voted on Tuesday to allow the newest sculpture to be installed.
Everyone except Cr Cordy agreed the proposal met planning outcomes.
He was concerned that sculptures undermined a heritage protection overlay the council had imposed over Main Street.
"A heritage overlay, for me, implies it [a streetscape] shouldn't be changed for sculptures," he said.
Councillor Matthew Driscoll said the shire's heritage advisor believed the new statue would not affect the heritage significance of the nearest building.
"So I'm happy to go with that," he said.
Councillor Christine Henderson supported the statue's installation but was concerned about wear and tear on previous works, given how important they were becoming for the town's tourism.
"What is the plan for Chewton's main street? Where are these sculptures going to go? Are they all going to be on private space or are some of them going to go on public space?" she asked.
Cr Henderson said it was time someone began working on a masterplan to guide how and where future statues could rise, and which residents and achievements should be lionised.
Councillor Bill Maltby said the council should consider approaching state politicians and Regional Development Victoria about arts funding for the project.
"That would be a good start," he said.
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