| Mall works soon to be unveiled |
| By Anthony Radford
Big screens will reflect the Bendigo environment
By ANTHONY RADFORD
THE City of Greater Bendigo council will release the artwork to be put on the four large screens of the Hargreaves Mall redevelopment in the coming weeks.
The council this week approved the sketches of the artwork, but will only release them once they can represent how they will look on the screens.
The screens will dominate the new mall and the artwork has been designed around four main features – the city’s natural environment, Chinese history, post settlement and indigenous culture.
The screens will be used in three modes – during the day, at night when they will be back lit, and at night only as a projector screen when needed.
The project will cost about $4000.
Work on the rest of the mall redevelopment is taking shape with the planting of 12 advanced Japanese zelkova shade trees as part of stage two of the works.
The deciduous trees, which will eventually grow to about 20 metres, have been chosen for their colour, shape and form and their suitability for the local climate.
Mayor David Jones said stage two of the Williamson Street end of the mall was nearing completion.
“I think with the trees going in people will get a real feel for how the mall will look,” he said.
“It is a milestone in the redevelopment.
“What most people don’t realise is that a large majority of the work that is taking place at the mall nobody can see because it’s all underground.”
“With the installation of the new paving and now the trees you get a better idea of how it’s going to look at the end of the day.”
The stage two works are expected to be completed in the next 10 days when stage three works, which include paving, a central civic space, new architectural screens with imbedded art and unisex toilets, begin.
The final stage works will include paving, new trees, a water feature, new furniture, signature obelisk structure and new lighting and are expected to be complete in October.
The council is still yet to decide on a final design for the proposed children’s play structure and sculpture.
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