At Wednesday’s meeting, council will debate the future of Bega’s iconic clock.
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The Dr Evershed Memorial Clock is located at the busy junction of Carp and Gipps St in the town.
In 1930 it was dedicated to commemorate Montague Evershed, a doctor who practised in Bega for more than 50 years.
On Wednesday, February 3, Bega Valley Shire councillors will discuss future maintenance of the clock tower and where it should be located.
The debate of the clock tower’s relocation was indirectly raised after discussion on the development of Littleton Gardens, master planning for the Bega main street, and traffic management at the intersection of Carp and Gipps Streets.
The cost of maintenance and refurbishment of the clock tower has been quoted at between $15,000 and $20,000.
Relocation is estimated to cost between $35,00-$50,000, but does have the support of the doctor’s family.
In 2009, Brian Evershed Hudspeth wrote a letter to then-Mayor Tony Allen saying he was one of four grandchildren of Welby Evershed – the late doctor’s son – and he thought relocation of the clock tower would be appropriate as residents had told him “the clock has been fortunate not coming to grief on many occasions”.
In the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting, council noted the Bega Valley community had not been broadly or directly consulted on any proposals for the Bega clock tower and during the public consultation process for the original Littleton Gardens master plan a suggestion to relocate the clock tower to the gardens was discussed and criticised.
It also stated due to the intersection configuration and the clock tower location, traffic signals could not be installed at the junction unless significant compromises are made to the required design standards, compromises unlikely to be supported by Roads and Maritime Services.
Meanwhile, also on council’s agenda:
Applications for the Youth and Seniors Week small grants programs will be voted on during Bega Valley Shire Council’s meeting on Wednesday.
Applicants include the Bega Valley Archers.
In 2013, Cr Keith Hughes caused controversy when he spoke out against the archery club receiving a grant, claiming archery was “the start of inculcation to gun culture”.
Also, Cr Sharon Tapscott has asked if councillors could be provided with information regarding a strategy to promote cemeteries as tourist attractions.
Wednesday’s meeting will be the first to be held in the Bega Valley Commemorative Civic Centre’s new chambers and will be live streamed.
It will be from 2pm at Zingle Place, Bega and is open to the public.
