The proposed art installation at the Lilydale Civic Centre has been discontinued.

As part of the Civic Centre Redevelopment project, Council had commissioned a new work from Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin AO, Jonathan Jones and Tom Nicholson, titled untitled (stars and stones), which was to be installed at the community entrance to the new civic centre.

The work was being developed to highlight the significance of the Bukker Tillible – the Cave Hill Quarry in Lilydale, which has been a part of the history of the region and will soon be developed.

In a public meeting in 2022, Cr Child said that, despite efforts from Council and the artist group, a mutually-agreed concept that met all safety requirements, while meeting the cultural intent of the artwork, could not be achieved.

As a result, the project has been discontinued.

Cr Child acknowledged the frustration and disappointment from the artist group, and said there had been shortfalls in oversight and management of the installation.

“This is something that myself as Mayor and our CEO, Tammi Rose, take very seriously,” he said.

“Yarra Ranges Council has a long history of working in partnership with local Wurundjeri people and remains absolutely committed to strengthening and building on the partnerships we have developed.

“But we also need to acknowledge when we get things wrong and make mistakes, as in this instance with the untitled (stars and stones) project.

“On behalf of Yarra Ranges Council, our CEO and employees, I would like to formally apologise to the artists group.”