PRIME real estate with frontage along the Sturt Highway in Berri may soon be developed once a decades-old community mural is removed from the location.
Two allotments in front of the Riverland Complex – the former site of the Berri cannery – are under contract to be sold, while another is under offer.
As part of the conditions of the sale, a large mural on one of the sites is expected to be removed or demolished, along with other fencing on the site.
The mural, standing 6m high and 50m wide, was completed in 1985 and was painted by community groups from the Berri area.
Current owner Tony Moro offered the mural to Berri Barmera Council at no cost, providing council fund the cost of removal and relocation, but elected members turned down the offer at council’s most recent monthly meeting citing concerns over the condition of the artwork and the relocation costs.
“This was a huge community project,” said Cr Rhonda Centofanti.
“It just brought the whole community and sporting groups together.
“(But) I don’t think we should keep it because it would be a huge cost.”
Council CEO Karyn Burton said council had told Mr Moro in 2017 that it would like the option to relocate the artwork if it were ever to be removed.
“I still wanted to know if council had the will to keep it,” Ms Burton said.
“A couple of our Berri Improvement Committee members suggested doing a photography display of the mural to get it preserved that way instead, which is what council ended up agreeing to.
“Council has chosen not to take ownership of it, however we are going to get onto taking some photos of it to preserve the history of it so it isn’t lost, and we’ll make a community project out of the artwork.
“We’re very grateful that Mr Moro offered it to us and also offered to store the mural there as well.”
Mr Moro said a decision on the mural would be deferred until building projects on the site were set to commence in a few months.
“(Removing the mural) will get some activity happening at the entry to Berri to complement the Bunnings site,” he said.
“The remaining land closer to Bunnings is in negotiation to be sold to another developer with a great project in mind.
“That is not possible until some infrastructure such as filtered water is available, and we are working on a solution to that problem.
“It is difficult to develop vacant land for housing or other projects with the lack of infrastructure such as potable water and sewage service.
“Hopefully those issues can be addressed soon, opening up opportunities.”
Elected members voted to proceed with professional photography of the mural, so long as the cost was less than $2000.
Ms Burton said images of the mural would likely be used in a future public arts display.