Zoe Moffatt
People from all over the world travel hundreds of thousands of kilometers to catch a glimpse of Los Angeles’ famous ‘Hollywood’ sign perched on the hills of the Santa Monica mountains.
Now, thanks to a new sign from property developer Villawood, Sunbury residents only have to travel to Jackson Creek Hill to witness a new American-style sign from the developer.
This new addition to Sunbury, which many locals still consider a country-style town, has angered residents, including Lisa O’Brien who has lived in Sunbury about 22 years.
Ms O’Brien said she takes her dog to the park every night and noticed the sign on Tuesday, February 20.
“It’s on top of the Jacksons Creek Hill and it’s facing the dog park,” she said. “I thought it was terrible, we watch the sun set and the moon come up and that’s where the sign is now.
“It is frustrating, they’re going to change the dog park to be on lead for environmental reasons but they are allowed to put that on the hill.”
Ms O’Brien said the dislike of the sign was widespread throughout the community and proves that Villawood is out of touch with Sunbury.
“It’s wrecking what Sunbury is famous for… we’re not Hollywood,” she said.
Jacksons Creek Ward Councillor Trevor Dance said he also found out last Tuesday and was “horrified”.
“You don’t want a Hollywood-style sign overlooking the ridge. [The sign] serves no purpose, a couple hundred metres up the road there’s another [Villawood] sign,” Cr Dance said.
“Villawood always said they claim to be a good corporate citizen and so the Sunbury community expectation is that Villawood live up to this, remove the sign and recognise it was not appropriate.
“All the emails to Hume council have been a huge outcry, residents don’t want it. It’s a disgrace… everyone is against it, it’s a nature reserve area with a Hollywood-style sign bearing down on the community.”
A Facebook post about the sign garnered more than 40 comments, with some users calling it an “eyesore” and “just bloody terrible”.
A statement from the company said the sculpture has been erected on private land.
“The artwork on our Kimberley project at Sunbury is part of a public art program synonymous with Villawood’s award-winning communities across Australia,” the statement read.
An updated 2017 Jacksons Creek Parkland FAQs from Villawood said the company “has a strong and proven track record of taking into account the needs and the issues of importance to the broader community in all its endeavours, demonstrated through its broader philanthropic activities”.
Hume council was contacted for comment.
