The vice-president of the Lighthouses of Australia organisation says painting the Centenary of Anzac logo on the Kiama Lighthouse could set a "dangerous precedent" for more than 360 lighthouses across Australia.
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Kiama resident Ian Clifford, who has been involved in maintaining lighthouses on the South Coast for more than 20 years, said with so many charities and organisations in existence, allowing the Kiama Lighthouse to be painted would make saying no to future proposals for any other lighthouses very difficult and possibly contentious.
It could also bring "commercial pressure" to some lighthouses in significant locations Mr Clifford said, a fear he said was shared by many of his colleagues.
In November last year, Kiama councillors unanimously endorsed the vision of the Kiama-Jamberoo RSL sub-branch to have a 1.5-metre Centenary of Anzac logo painted on the Kiama Lighthouse from 2014 to 2018.
A visual impact analysis which is now open for public comment said a "peelable removable" logo painted on the lighthouse would have a "minimal impact on the heritage significance and visual quality" of the heritage-listed lighthouse on Blowhole Point.
However, Mr Clifford said the Kiama Lighthouse was a heritage structure and one of the oldest buildings in Kiama and still operated as an active navigational aid, including as a daymark.
"It is neither a building the council owns or controls," he said.
He supported the idea of having an image projected on the lighthouse, but not painted on it.
"Many lighthouses are regularly lit up in different colours to raise awareness for charities such as World Aids Day and the SES," Mr Clifford said.
"Painting the Anzac logo on the lighthouse would effectively lock out any other charity floodlighting the lighthouse for the four years proposed for the logo."
Mr Clifford said there was no link between Anzacs and lighthouses "and to suggest otherwise was incorrect". He took aim at Kiama council's visual impact analysis which said no other location in Kiama has such "special significance".
"A quick drive down the main street and you see the Memorial Arch which is just as visible and more relevant."
Kiama councillor Dennis Seage, who is the sub-branch secretary, said lighting effects were considered but the RSL executive was unanimous in thinking it did not suffice.
"The image needs to be there 24/7 the same as the Diggers were subjected to hell on earth 24/7," Cr Seage said.
"The comment that 'nothing other than projections has ever been allowed on a lighthouse before' is exactly why the RSL wants the official Centenary of Anzac logo transfixed to our lighthouse.
"It is the ultimate mark of respect, having never been done before. The heritage assessment, at a cost of around $7000 insisted upon by the Lands Department, states clearly that no damage will be caused to the lighthouse."
The visual impact analysis is open for public comment on Kiama Council's website until January 5.
