Aussie suburb erupts in $6000 battle over rainbow bench
After multiple, extensive and exhaustive investigations, the bench was eventually removed in a rather expensive exercise of residents.
A seemingly innocent bench intended to unite a leafy suburban community has resulted in a dramatic, two-year long saga over it's placement, roped in local and federal politicians, police, road safety experts and created a costly war between neighbours.
The rainbow bench — in St Ives on Sydney's Upper North Shore — was installed in 2021 next to a neighbourhood library during the pandemic, after local resident Marina Close campaigned for it to be placed outside her home. Her intention was to create a place for parents to bring their children.
Rainbow bench divides community, causes uproar
After multiple, extensive and exhaustive investigations into the safety of the bench — with it's its proximity to the road being a concern to locals — Ku-ring-gai Council eventually made the decision to have it removed.
In its place a plain wooden bench was installed "on a six-month trial" though that was also later removed after a council vote. Close is furious over the bench removals, which was billed at $6000, The North Shore Times reported.
The saga has been branded a "waste of ratepayer funds" by angry residents monitoring the bizarre ordeal, with neighbours now at odds over the result. On one hand, Close and fellow St Ives resident Andy Bloom say the benches, on a nature strip, united the community and brought joy to children.
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But many others said they posed a safety risk being on the strip's edge, with CCTV reportedly capturing evidence of the alleged safety risks.
Ku-ring-gai Council has conducted several traffic and safety assessments, commissioned a private consultant to undertake a risk assessment and brought in a mediator to oversee a community meeting.
'Waste of taxpayer money'
Some residents have even gone as far as conducting asbestos testing of the area, and understood police were called to Close's residence on at least one occasion over incidents linked to the bench.
The decision to remove the second bench came after an hour-long council debate, which found the risks outweigh the benefits, following two separate risk assessments and a public survey — although that found the majority of residents were in favour of it.
Councillor Christine Kay – who voted to remove it in December – said that "morally" she could not support the controversial wooden seat.
“Instead of creating harmony and inclusion it’s creating the complete opposite – it’s creating disunity. Morally, I feel the bench should be removed,” the Times reported.
Bench put lives at risk, local says
Ms Bloom however lashed the decision as "ludicrous" and criticised the council over what she described as “significant [waste of] resources and ratepayer money”.
“The bench was only ever intended to be a place for residents to sit and for parents to watch their children,” she said.
One resident said the bench wasn't in "an appropriate location to start" and the situation "never should have gotten to this point" believing "it's not safe and was never safe".
Another even went as far as claiming the bench put the lives of children at risk.
The entire operational cost to remove the bench totalled $6000 — which includes reimbursing Bloom — who contributed some $3000 to its installation.
The council is now believed to be considering alternative locations for the much-talked about seat.
Co-founder of the Sydney YIMBY community group Melissa Neighbour said the issue highlights "another example of a vocal minority" having a win.
“Councils are very good at responding to pressure from residents and this is another example of a vocal minority ending up having the loudest voice,” she said.
“It highlights the way bureaucracy has gotten out of control in our country, and the layers of red tape that have just become nonsensical.”
In response, Ku-ring-gai spokesman said the “matter of the bench is of interest to the local community and as such council is dedicated to working with the community to address any concerns”.
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