Sculpture set to be installed in Mona Vale on Sydney’s Northern Beaches angers residents

Residents in a Sydney neighbourhood are up in arms over a new sculpture set to be installed at a beach side park. 

The Northern Beaches Council announced a public art installation will be erected at North Mona Vale Headland Reserve along the 36km Coast Walk between Manly and Palm Beach. 

The sculpture is a ‘You are Here’ sign in the ground made from sandstone and was described as ‘whimsical and interactive’ on the council’s website however locals aren’t happy with the ‘ridiculous’ art piece.

A heated debate was sparked after community Facebook page Northern Beaches Living asked members what they thought of the sculpture set to be unveiled in late 2023. 

Many agreed the art piece would ‘take away’ from the reserve’s ‘natural beauty’ while others called it an ‘eyesore’. 

‘Imagine trying to take a beautiful photo of nature and having that hideous s*** in it. Talk about wrecking a space,’ one woman said. 

‘Hands off the natural environment. Why do we need to put our ‘stamp’ on everything and continuously blight our natural landscape?’ a second asked. 

‘Absolutely destroying the scenery of nature,’ a third agreed and a fourth added: ‘Seriously? Surely this is not an option!! It looks ridiculous.’ 

The sandstone ‘You Are Here’ sign will be installed at North Mona Vale Headland Reserve (pictured) While the concept has been met with backlash, some locals have said they ‘love’ it

Others continued to pile on the installation calling it ‘ghastly’, ‘ugly’, ‘unnecessary’, ‘horrible’ and ‘a blight on the landscape’.

‘People know exactly where they are when they come to sit, think, play and enjoy the coast or headband areas. This idea is just way off the mark,’ one resident replied. 

‘Looks like a spot for a helicopter to land,’ another laughed. 

However the feedback wasn’t all negative as many loved the artistic idea. 

‘I love it! If art is partly intended to provoke and question, this piece is already doing just that, judging by the comments! Plus it will form handy seating,’ someone said. 

‘Love it, a nice reminder of the now,’ agreed another.  

‘If you can climb on the sandstone blocks it will be nice. It would be good to see the perspective from ground level. I get the sense that it will actually be fantastic when in place and the sort of thing that cannot be appreciated in a photo,’ a third commented. 

‘It will grow on us and present surprising uses. It works for me as art. Yes from me.’ 

A statement from the Northern Beaches Council said the artwork can also be used as informal seating or as a play space.

It was designed and will be erected by Australian artist duo Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro best known for their large-scale installations and site-specific artworks.

‘The concept represents a playful use of words that can be integrated into the park to create a meeting point, a conversation point, and a complement to existing park uses,’ the statement read.  

Of their concept the Clare and Sean said: ‘We live in an age of ultimate distraction -You are Here locates people within the park. You are Here is an affirming phrase. The words remind us of the here and now, celebrating our existence in a beautiful setting.’