Brendan Simpkins

THE next steps have been taken in the pursuit for street art in Gawler following last month’s Gawler Council meeting.

Councillor Nathan Shanks’s motion on notice was finally put to the chamber for a vote after it was first placed on the agenda in February.

Elected members were unanimous in their support of the motion, with all present voting in favour.

Council staff will now investigate the possibility on murals and other street art being installed in town, with a detailed report set to come back to council in due course.

The report will detail possible locations for street art, potential funding opportunities and costings based on previous pieces commissioned by council.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing though, with debate on the item limited after a formal motion to put it to a vote was carried.

Cr Diane Fraser spoke on the motion, saying she was a fan of street art and highlighted works in various places around the state.

Cr Paul Koch also spoke in support of the motion but he said there needed to be a distinction between council funding artwork on buildings it owned versus privately-owned buildings.

Earlier in the night, Daniel James Down made a presentation to council as part of his deputation on the item.

Mr Down has spearheaded the discussion around the installation of murals and street art in Gawler.

The move followed on from a recommendation by council’s Corporate & Community Services Committee in mid-March.

It recommended that an expressions of interest (EOI) be launched for artwork based at three locations of the multi-storey carpark on Finniss Street.