Wollongong's rainbow crossing - a bright and prominent symbol of the city's support for the LGBTQI community - was unveiled on Christmas Eve, as an "early present" from the council.
Acting lord mayor Tania Brown - who led the charge to have the crossing painted earlier this year to counteract homophobia and hate speech - said the new pride symbol, which appeared overnight outside the Novotel Northbeach, would become a popular photo spot at Wollongong's busiest beach.
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"It's a wonderful foreshore location, and it's nice we've been able to deliver it as an early Christmas present for the city - there's already been a lot of selfies taken already this morning," she said.
"People will come here and check in at our rainbow crossing, and that will go around the world. It's about sending the message that we're an inclusive community, which is why I was appreciative the entire council supported it. "
"This is personal to a lot of people in the community. It is an important visible symbol and there are people in our community who are still very much affected by homophobia - the trolls will always be out there - so having a physical symbol to show that everyone is welcome is so important."
On the council's Facebook page, a vast a majority of people have posted messages of support for the crossing saying it was a "joyous" symbol which would put the city on the map.
"Love it so much!" Jess Hyland wrote.
"I'm guessing this will be an Insta hotspot now. Well done Council for showing leadership and acceptance. We love love!!"
"A great visual symbol of inclusion, respect and diversity," Maria Whitcher said.
"If we had more respect of diversity and valued inclusion- we wouldn't have the problems we currently have in the world. If you don't appreciate inclusion and diversity, you've go to love rainbows, don't you?"
However, some detractors questioned whether "the elderly" would be able to work out how to use the out-of-the-ordinary crossing and questioned the cost.
Cr Brown said the location, at Cliff Parade, was in a safe, shared pedestrian zone which had a speed limit of 10km/h, and noted the crossing had cost no more than a few extra tins of coloured paint.
"Representing everyone in our community is our business - and this is a very small way we can show that," she said.
"The council regularly paints line markings, or normal pedestrian crossings, so this is normal council business, with a little bit of extra money on some coloured paint."
Kate McIlwain
For the past 11 years, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. In that time I've covered breaking news, education, politics, urban affairs, council, environment, data journalism and development news. More recently, I became the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents two years into a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For the past 11 years, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. In that time I've covered breaking news, education, politics, urban affairs, council, environment, data journalism and development news. More recently, I became the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents two years into a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
