APRIL 2014: POLL: Cenotaph moving
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
JULY 2014: Feed back about the Narromine Cenotaph
JULY 2014: Cenotaph decision made | POLL
Yesterday's Remembrance Day ceremony was particularly significant as it was the last ceremony with the Cenotaph in its current location.
The relocation of the Cenotaph will start today.
After 25 years of negotiations council has taken just seven months since its original decision to move the Cenotaph to get the ball rolling.
Narromine Shire Mayor Bill McAnally said works would begin this week.
"We will dismantle the Cenotaph and prepare the foundations for its new position," he said.
"We have a few designs to pick from but we have finalised where it will go."
The Cenotaph has featured prominently on council's meeting agenda since April this year when the council ruled to move the Cenotaph.
At the May council meeting councillors rescinded the motion chasing more public consultation.
In July residents were invited to a meeting at the golf club concerning the Cenotaph and The Narromine News and Trangie Advocate reported it was standing room only.
At the July council meeting council decided it would move the Cenotaph and Cr McAnally put forward the motion that council would decide where the Cenotaph would be located.
"Council will make the final decision of where it is placed," he said.
On August 13 council decided Tom Perry Park would be extended to accommodate the Cenotaph which would leave it in a prominent position in the town. Cr Collins voted against this opting for a position in Tom Perry Park, her amendment was rejected.
From today O'Neills Square will be closed to traffic for an undetermined amount of time.
Cr McAnally is sure the Cenotaph will be relocated in time for the 100th anniversary of Anzac Day in 2015.
Other local residents, like Dawn Brydon, are not so sure.
"It's at such a late stage," she said.
"We're just five months away from the 100th anniversary and it's the big one."
Mrs Brydon is concerned council isn't as worried about the monument as it was about the intersection.
"They just want to sort out the intersection, I got the feeling they weren't entirely concerned about the memorial," she said.
"They could have stopped the trucks years ago."
Cr McAnally is looking forward to the relocation of the Cenotaph.
"It needs to be moved for the right reasons," he said.
"We've got two or three designs to choose from. It will look lovely. People can have tea under the Cenotaph."
Cr McAnally said council decided to wait until after Remembrance Day to move the memorial.
"We got the go ahead a couple of weeks ago and decided to wait," he said.
"We're trying to close the Square. Trying to minimise the inconvenience for a short while."
