NORTH East bushfire victims have been underwhelmed by a water feature planned for Myrtleford to mark Black Saturday.
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A sculpture representing the burnt forest and promise of regrowth has been unveiled for the new Myrtleford open space in Clyde Street.
It aims to provide a place for residents and visitors to reflect on the bushfires, remember the 173 lives that were lost and recognise the contribution of volunteers.
But the proposal has been rejected by people who lived through the tragedy.
Ray McCarthy, who barely escaped with his life from the fireball that engulfed his Barwidgee Creek home, said he would rather no memorials were built.
“I like what I see, but that’s one side of the story,” he said of the proposed sculpture.
“From my point of view I don’t want any memorials because we’ve moved on and I don’t know if we need constant reminders of it.
“We’re really lucky in a sense that the cards have fallen right for us and we’re probably better off now than we were before the fires.
“But I think we should remember the good times and try and forget about the bad.”
Myrtleford businessman Sam Crisci, who lost his home of 30 years in the fire, said there were already enough “burnt sticks” around without having more.
He said if anything, a hollow log should be transported from the areas affected and planted with new growth.
“I don’t see how that can be a sculpture,” Mr Crisci said of the water feature.
“It would go all right in a small park, but that’s the centre of town so we really need to do something a lot better than that.
“I can see what they’re trying to do but I think they’re going the wrong way about it.”
A concept plan for the new open space at the site of the old police station was released by Alpine Council this week.
Other memorials are planned for Mudgegonga, Rosewhite and Running Creek halls, with an interpretive board also flagged for Rosewhite Gap.
The council’s strategic projects officer Simon Jones said the plans were developed following preliminary consultation with the community and would be on display for comment until Friday, June 4.