Why a proposed portable war memorial 'won't fly' for country town
After lobbying for years for a permanent war memorial, residents of Coral Bay have been told to make do with a transportable one by a government department.
Coral Bay, a coastal town in Western Australia, has been campaigning for a permanent war memorial on the town's foreshore for years. The local RSL has rejected the state's offer of a portable memorial, calling it "ridiculous." Coral Bay, located about 1,100 kilometres north of Perth in Western Australia's Gascoyne region, has been lobbying for a permanent memorial to be built in Baz's Park, the site where locals gather for Anzac Day dawn services.
However, the state Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) refuses to permit a permanent structure due to concerns over its impact on the area's natural, cultural and aesthetic values. The DBCA's suggestion of a portable memorial has been rejected by the RSL, with the president describing it as "bureaucracy gone stupid."
The town's residents, including resident Jacqui Price, argue that a permanent memorial would serve as a focal point for commemorations and allow people to reflect on the sacrifices made. The DBCA maintains that construction of permanent memorials on managed reserves is generally not supported as it avoids the proliferation of permanent structures that may affect their environmental, cultural and social significance.
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