Business group fails in mural grant bid

The Ettalong Beach Business Group has expressed disappointment over its failed attempt to secure funding for a mural on Ettalong Post Office Wall project.

Business group press secretary Mr Richard Berntsen said it would now need to look at "new avenues of funding" to see the project completed.

He said the group had "no idea" why the project was refused funding support from the community development and support expenditure committee scheme run by Clubs NSW.

"The project was first thought up at the end of October last year with an idea about trying to inject interest in the Ettalong town centre that was positive, would bring publicity to the area, and might create a focal point for a town that is desperately looking to define itself," Mr Berntsen said.

According to Mr Berntsen, the Ettalong mural project was envisaged after hearing about the success of murals carried out in Gosford to tackle graffiti issues.

"That project focused on working with the youth, with the indigenous community and trying to stimulate work and dollars for those who invest in our community by opening businesses."

Mr Berntsen said the artwork to appear on the mural represented Aboriginal history from the area.

"The artwork was to be of Aboriginal history for this area and would educate the community about the indigenous people that inhabited the land before we arrived," Mr Berntsen said.

"The mural was of the local aboriginal totem for the area, which is a whale, and within the whale we were going to fuse the new look of the town with the idea that the old and indigenous was still all around us.

He said local students and artists in the area would be involved in the painting of the mural.

"The mural is 80 square metres, and will cost roughly $20,000 to do, so it is not something that can be sorted by having a local fete or fund raiser.

"We will have to get back into research and see what funding is available in the coming months for projects such as these."

Press release, 8 Jul 2009 Richard Berntsen, Ettalong Beach Business Group Email, 1 Jul 2009 Cr Chris Holstein, Gosford Mayor