Shellharbour City councillors have endorsed the relocation of commemorative monuments in Warilla, forced by the council’s sale of the former Warilla council chambers and Warilla library.
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The freedom wall and peace grove were installed near the Warilla council chambers in 1995 with 113 plaques to honour local servicemen and women.
In late 2013 the move to offer land containing the freedom wall and peace grove as part of the sale of the former council chambers drew an angry and at times emotional response from community members and RSL sub-branch representatives.
However Shellharbour City Council collaborated with RSL sub-branches to identify a new site nearby on the corner of Benaud Crescent and Lake Entrance Road.
The proposal was placed on public exhibition in December, with just one submission received.
Shellharbour Deputy Mayor Paul Rankin said the proposal had been endorsed by the RSL so he was happy to proceed with the new site.
‘‘The RSL have endorsed this in writing so I am happy to proceed with this,’’ Cr Rankin said.
However Cr Kellie Marsh said she wanted it put on record she was not happy with those who supported placing the memorials in the new location.
‘‘If you got past the site that is proposed there is a sign that says gross pollutant trap,’’ Cr Marsh said.
‘‘Personally I think we can do a lot better for those that put their lives on the line for us in Shellharbour City than put this wall next to a gross pollutant trap.’’
Construction of the wall, landscaping, installation of furniture and new plaques will cost more than $56,000.
The sale of the council chambers and library raised $4.05million, with $2million to go towards construction of the City Hub and the remainder to be used to develop a new branch library for Warilla in Keith Fletcher Park.
