The competition would have called for submissions from professional artists and locals for designs to be painted onto the amphitheatre steps.

The community would have been able to vote on a shortlist of selected designs before one was chosen. It could have cost up to $20,000 which would have been drawn from a fund set up for public art projects.

However Councillor Peter Bray moved a motion at last week’s council meeting which said no further action should be taken towards incorporating public art at the QEII Park.

Council staff put forward the proposal in line with their broader policy to beautify the region with public art.

The proposal read “the inclusion of a vibrant, site specific artwork on the amphitheatre steps at QEII Park would further enhance our wonderful community space on the city’s river front.”

“Inviting the community to one, have the opportunity to submit a design and two, cast their vote on the shortlisted designs, will result in connection, ownership and civic pride in the process and the outcome.”

A majority of councillors did not share the staff view and passed Cr Bray’s motion that no further action should be taken.

Cr Bray likened the process of changing the QEII Park to tinkering with a prestige motor vehicle.

“It would destroy the clean lines already in existence and the detail of the artwork would not provide any enhancement or meaning to what is an award-winning project,” Cr Bray said.

Cr Trudy Taylor seconded the motion saying the striking white spaces were a highlight of the park and the council shouldn’t rush to cover them with art.

Crs Kenrick Winchester and Peter Marshall did not support the motion (along with Brian Brown) and suggested the artwork could act as a deterrent to graffiti as the steps were currently a blank canvas for vandals.

Cr Winchester further added he saw no reason for the council to not at least consider the artworks and decide if one was suitable for the space.

Mayor Tim Overall said it was the council’s role to make decisions and it would be misleading to the community to allow the competition to go ahead if the council then decided to not install any of the designs.