BATHURST Regional Council’s hunt for a logo is facing a new PR disaster with its two new options generating even more criticism than the original Forever Young design.
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The bill for the city’s new branding logo has already topped $50,000 but we look no closer to settling on a design that will win broad public support.
The people of Bathurst have been asked to have their say on the logo options – Forever Young, Step Beyond and Perfectly Timeless – through a YourSay survey on council’s website but it will be up to councillors to make the final decision at their December 13 meeting.
The survey closes on December 11 but council has refused to provide data on the votes cast so far.
But the Western Advocate’s own online survey on the logos has delivered a surprising result. With almost 600 votes cast on Tuesday afternoon, the Forever Young design was now a clear favourite with 60 per cent of the votes.
Step Beyond was sitting on 21 per cent with Forever Timeless – nominated by at least four councillors as their preferred option – last on 19 per cent. If those figures are reflected in the council survey then councillors could be in a difficult spot.
One councillor in no doubt which way he will be voting, though, is Warren Aubin.
Cr Aubin, who was overseas when his colleagues voted at the November meeting of council to commission two new logo options, said he could not believe the debate had gone one so long.
He said he always favoured retaining the original Forever Young design.
“We gave these people [the consultants] the job because they are the professionals and this is what they do,” Cr Aubin said. “They came up with a logo they knew would work but then a few people decided they didn’t like it.”
Meanwhile, Cr Monica Morse has moved to end concerns council was getting rid of its butterfly logo as part of the branding process.
She said she had read a number of comments on social media from people who did not understand the purpose of the current branding exercise.
“The butterfly logo is used on official council documents, publications, social media and corporate uniforms,” Cr Morse said.
“The tourism branding strategy which is being developed now will create a marketing tool to attract visitors to the Bathurst region and to encourage people to move to Bathurst. It is designed to underpin stories about the region, its heritage, its events and its unique position as a tourism destination.”
Cr Morse said council would continue to use the butterfly logo.
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