Spotlight on case of missing C

ONE of the Gold Coast’s most controversial artworks has blown a blub, gifting the city its new name – the ‘GOLD OAST’.

Made up of 97 light poles, the $2.1 million “art piece’’ known as the Northern Gold Coast Entry Statement at Yatala is supposed to read GOLD COAST, but for the past week the lights making up the C have been out.

The controversial work was installed in 2018 for the Commonwealth Games, with many criticising its placement as “unreadable’’ because it cannot be viewed by passing motorists on the M1. The situation comes after council last year resolved to leave the sign in place until a new home is found.

Councillors were previously told the piece costs $30,000 to maintain annually and electricity costs total $5500. At the time the council was advised moving the lights would cost $1.2-$1.4 million due to traffic management.

It is not known how much it will cost to fix the “C’’.

Division 1 councillor Mark Hammel said he plans to get the lights back on the agenda.

“How many city bureaucrats does it take to change a light bulb?” he said.

“Like most locals, I am sick of this issue constantly coming up, and have always felt this art installation was a colossal waste of taxpayers’ money.

“Every time we drive past this atrocity on the M1 we are reminded of how the city wasted millions of dollars. In January 2019, the resolution was that the lights remain until other uses could be investigated. That was a year and a half ago so as the new Division 1 councillor I’ll be seeking to get this back on the council agenda so we can make a decision.’’

A council spokesperson said the problem was being investigated for repairs.