BATHURST continues to pay a high price for vandalism – $50,000, in fact.
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That’s the hefty price Bathurst Regional Council paid to have the historic Crago Fountain repaired after its top tier was destroyed nearly one year ago to the day.
The iconic landmark in Machattie Park will be reinstated and returned to full working order in the coming week.
It’s been a long time in the making, though, as the search for the specialist foundry skills to replicate and recast the broken fountain pieces led council all the way to the Hunter Valley.
Parks and gardens manager Peter Navin said yesterday it was important to get the fountain back in working order.
“It’s one of the main features in Machattie Park,” he said. “The fountain’s of immense historic value to the city and council will be very happy to have it returned to its former glory.
“But it has come at a cost – in excess of $50,000. It’s disapp-ointing that vandals did this in the first place. In the future I hope people have more respect for items of such important heritage value as this.”
Mr Navin said while the repairs were being completed council took the opportunity to have the fountain sandblasted and repainted.
“Just last week we had the ivy leaves around the edges of the bowls bolted back into place,” he said.
“They are the little spouts that help get that nice cascading effect with the water.
“The next job is to get our plumbers to reinstate the top section. Then it will be back in working order and that should happen within the next week.”
Local residents Angus Jewkes and Cheryl McKellar were yesterday admiring the freshly-painted Crago Fountain.
“Something needed to be done,” Mr Jewkes said.
“It will be good to see it working again.”
Ms McKellar said it would be good to have the fountain going after being broken for so long.