By Paul Dunlop
A WATERY welcome is in store for visitors to Cardinia LiFE centre.
Cardinia councillors have endorsed plans for a $30,000 ‘sound and visual’ artwork to take pride of place at the entrance to Pakenham’s aquatic and recreation centre.
The artwork will have an environmental theme combining the “captivating” and “constantly changing” sounds of water with a treelike sculpture branching out across the centre’s ceiling.
The work has been designed by awardwinning artists Sonia Leber and David Chesworth from Wax Sound Media, in collaboration with Simeon Nelson.
It is the third in a series of public art pieces jointly funded by Cardinia Shire and Delfin Lend Lease.
Mayor Kate Lempriere said the artwork would enhance the architectural acoustics of the wavelike roof structure.
Cr Lempriere said residents who took part in public consultation on the program expressed a desire to embrace new and original concepts.
“The general consensus was to use lighting, movement and sound to interact with the local environment and engage the imagination of the public.
“This proposal fulfils this aspiration,” Cr Lempriere said.
Councillors approved the design without comment at their 19 March meeting.
A report to council said the proposal was an “innovative and contemporary design” that “interacted” with the $10.3 million centre’s architecture and “embraced the surrounding natural environment”.
The sound of water will be heard from the curved roof as people pass through the entrance to the recreation and aquatic centre.
“Water is a precious resource and we hope that the soundsape will increase people’s awareness of the importance of water in our everyday lives and environment,” Cr Lempriere said.
Council was told the artists had recently completed a major soundscape along William Barak Bridge to mark the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
The Cardinia work is planned to be finished by June.
The project is part of a $75,000 commitment by council to a series of public artworks in partnership with Delfin, which is also contributing $75,000 over a number of years.
>>> What’s your view of council’s public art program? Contact the Gazette at editorstarnewsgroup.com.au or phone 5945 0666.
