Costly end of the rainbow
Image: The rainbow crossing on Oxford St / Photo: Bidgee
The removal of the popularly supported Taylor Square Rainbow Crossing on Oxford St will cost taxpayers $30,000.
The installation was a gesture to Australia’s largest LGBTI community celebrating Sydney’s 35th Mardi Gras, costing around $110,000. But the rainbow crossing is being removed this week for cited road safety concerns.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore called on the State Government to prolong the future of the rainbow crossing after the conclusion of its trial period on 31 March.
“We always intended the rainbow crossing to be permanent and I’ve always made clear that if it proved safe it should stay. I hope [NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell] listens to the local community, businesses on Oxford St and 15,000 petitioners who want to see the rainbow crossing kept in place,” she said.
The City of Sydney Council requested an independent safety audit of the designs before the Taylor Square crossing was installed on February 25.
“Our independent audit shows that it is a low safety risk. RMS [Roads and Maritime Services] did not raise any concerns about safety during the planning stages,” said Ms Moore.
But NSW Minister for Ports and Roads Duncan Gay said there were significant public safety concerns following 15 incidents at the crossing in one month.
“The City of Sydney Council’s own Road Safety Audit found ‘the behaviour witnessed on the crossing was considered a high risk of pedestrian/vehicle related incidents’,” he said.
“I am happy to work with Council on an alternative and permanent rainbow attraction that is not on a road.”
Sue Ritchie, Vice-President of the 2010 Business Partnership said the crossing should be maintained to complement Oxford St, and condemned petty politicking on the issue.
“This really just amplifies the lack of cooperation between state [and local governments]. We really need the State Government to pull up its socks and do the right thing by Oxford St,” she said.
Ms Ritchie questioned the cost of removing the project after only a few months.
“Why spend money taking it away when they’ve just spent money putting it in?” she said.
The US city of West Hollywood installed the first rainbow crossing in 2012 amid high public support.
