‘Gold Coast’ sign could be dismantled and used in parks and public spaces

Gold Coast councillors have voted to remove the controversial “Gold Coast” sign on the M1 at Yatala.

The $2 million artwork, made out of recycled street lights, was installed at the end of 2017 but has since copped widespread criticism for being unreadable to road users travelling on the M1.

The council’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee today debated options including finding another location for the sign, placing it in storage until a new location could be found or repurposing the lights in parks and public areas.

The final decision will be made at a meeting of the full council next week.

New York company LOT-EK won the $2 million contract to build the light structures at each end of the city. The installation at Yatala spells Gold Coast, while a smaller installation at Tugun spells GC.

The signs were intended to be icons that would “create a sense of arrival” for locals and visitors, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said at the time.

The artwork was criticised from the moment it was unveiled, with many pointing out the Yatala lights are only legible to those standing stationary on private property to the east and west of the sign, and simply appears as a cluster of lights to road users entering the region.