Local flora and fauna take centre stage in latest mural at Keppel Sands as part of Council’s Place M

Council’s Place Making Programme is continuing to brighten up corners of our Shire with its latest mural projects taking place in the seaside village of Keppel Sands.

Established by Council in 2017, the Place Making Programme has helped to add vibrancy and character to Livingstone while also encouraging the community to interact with public spaces in a creative and engaging way.

A Keppel Sands local as well as teacher and artist for the last 40 years, Terry Sykes said he was thrilled to be part of the project after being selected by a panel of community representatives, coming up with the concept for his mural by chatting with locals to find out their suggestions and ideas.

These same ideas were strongly supported in the recent survey conducted by Council to determine the level of support for public art in Keppel Sands.

“A lot of people wanted to see local flora and fauna like red-tail black cockatoos and sea turtles and especially the mud crab because Keppel Sands is known for its fishing, so I really tried to incorporate all of that,” Terry said.

“It’s really refreshing to see Livingstone Shire Council supporting artists and the arts industry. I think it beautifies the place on several levels and helps to highlight the natural environment and the specific qualities of our environment that we hold dear.

“It also helps to make the area more attractive as a tourist destination which is important for the economy and employment in the area.”

Terry’s mural can be found at Keppel Sand Caravan Park.

Mayor Andy Ireland said more arts projects are scheduled to get underway in the coming weeks and months throughout the Shire, including more murals at Keppel Sands, more landscaping and some creative sculptures in other locations.

“Council understands that when people love a place it adds enormous social and economic value to a community, an outcome that is central to the role of Local Government,” Mayor Ireland said.

“These projects have been very beneficial to our individual and collective appreciation of community and have been received positively by an overwhelming majority of residents and visitors to the region. Everything undertaken in this space contributes to the creation of a community that is more inviting, more interesting, more stimulating, more vibrant and more fun.”

For more information on the Place Making Programme or to be involved, please visit https://www.livingstone.qld.gov.au/1357/Placemaking-Program