A group of Sunbury residents is urging Hume council to keep a brick water fountain in the town’s Village Green that some people consider an eyesore.
The fountain, unveiled in 1983, could be replaced by in-ground jets to create a summer play area for children as part of plans to revitalise the area.
But life-long Sunbury resident Katherine Michell argues the steeped fountain should not be demolished. She’s among those who believe the council should instead ‘‘refresh’’ it by rendering the ageing bricks. An online petition created by Ms Michell last week has already been signed by 479 people.
‘‘There was a lot of discussion about it on Facebook,’’ she said.
‘‘People were saying, ‘we can’t do anything about it’ but I think we should at least try. I was born nearby in Brook Street … we’ve walked past it pretty much every day for my whole life.’’
Ms Michell, who plans to keep the petition going for another week or so before presenting it to the council, said a water play area could create problems with busy roads nearby. Some Facebook users said the fountain was ugly.
Council acting city infrastructure director David Fricke said a final decision on the fountain’s fate had not been made.
‘‘Council will consider the comments of Sunbury residents before it makes a decision,’’ he said.
