Icon or eyesore? Readers debate new Sydney artworks

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore's announcement of more than $8 million of new artworks for the city centre provoked plenty of reaction among 9NEWS readers today.

Most questioned the council's spending priorities, suggesting the money could have been better spent elsewhere.

Rachel White wrote: "Meanwhile kids in western Sydney living in poverty struggle to have enough to eat..... but sure, there is a budget emergency so there needs to be a huge welfare crackdown, so 9.3 million on a giant space noodle sounds like an excellent use of taxpayers money......"

Lou Silver wrote: "I can only assume the City of Sydney's Lord Mayor has nothing better to spend taxpayers money on? During my recent trip to Sydney I was shocked at the growing number of homeless people begging on the streets - surely something could be done to assist these people rather than spend millions on artwork?"

Many commentors said the commissions should have gone to Sydney artists.

"Aussie sculptors are exceptional, yet all of these millions go to Japanese, English etc artists. Why aren't we showcasing our own outstanding artists? The infamous Aussie #CulturalCringe is alive and kicking in Sydney - as usual, Australia bows to other cultures. I want to vomit," Boopio wrote.

Peter Ratcliffe agreed. "I'm all for beautification or "cultural" additions but shouldn't it be the rule that anything like these "artworks" are done by Sydney-based talent," he wrote.

However, there were some voices raised in support of the council's new artistic initiative.

"At least she's (focusing) on something other than building bike lanes and removing car parking spaces - nice to see arts and culture getting a (gig)!" Paul Thomas wrote.

The Pavilion, meanwhile, received some unlkely support from harry h, who wrote: "think of the smile that a large Milk Crate will put of the faces of adults and children alike :)".

Click hear to read more about the artworks and leave your comments.