BARMERA has added a new feature piece to its main street after the installation of a new fountain at the Barwell Avenue roundabout was completed last week.
The new traditional-style fountain replaces the sails sculpture that previously occupied the location.
The fountain features customisable lighting and recycles its water to minimise wastage.
Barmera Improvement Committee chairman and former Berri Barmera councillor Dave Waterman said the committee were “really happy” with the new fountain.
“It looks bloody excellent and it will now be running full-time,” he said.
“What we’re really happy about is having the top of the street lit up at night-time with the Bonney Theatre and the information centre being lit up with lights and now the new fountain.
“Now we have to work on lighting up the rest of the street.”
Mr Waterman said he had spent six or seven years trying to get council to approve a suitable and cost-effective design for the spot.
“When it first went back to the council, they didn’t like the traditional sort of fountain because they wanted something more modern,” he said.
“But look at the Bonney Theatre, and look at Rocky’s – the fountain has to match in with the rest of the town and it really has to fit that era.
“They came up with designs that would’ve looked ridiculous and were very expensive.
“In the end, we got out of it for around $10,000 by the time everything was done, rather than $50,000 or $60,000.
“It was a fairly big job, but this has been going on six or seven years.
“Finally, it’s done.”
Mr Waterman said part of the decision to replace the sails sculpture was to have running water near the town entrance.
“We have had a lot of tourists who have said there’s nothing like driving into a town and seeing a fountain with water,” he said.
“Coming down Fowles Street from the Sturt Highway, (the old sculpture) was the first thing you’d see and to me it looked tired and it just wasn’t that inviting.
“But I think it is now, and I’ve spoken to people and they’ve said it looks so nice coming in during the day, let alone at night.”
The old sails sculpture has now been moved to the Lake Bonney Yacht Club.