Community Feedback

The purpose of engagement was to inform the community of the proposed mural at the Wearing Street Precinct and provide an opportunity for stakeholders to influence the mural’s theme.

Engagement was conducted via resident letters, stakeholder emails, Your Say Onkaparinga, social media, onsite signage and paper-based surveys collected at the opening event held 2 May 2025.

Stakeholder groups engaged included directly affected residents and businesses, precinct users, arts stakeholders, Your Say Onkaparinga subscribers with interest in public art, and First Nations representatives. These groups were selected due to their visual connection to the site, involvement in arts, or historic engagement with the broader precinct project.

Theme popularity (based on 1st preference votes):

1. Aquatic life – 22 votes
2. Aquatic activities – 12 votes
3. Local flora – 8 votes
4. Kaurna history – 6 votes
5. History of the place – 2 votes
6. Other (community suggestions) – 3 votes

Community Suggested Theme (Other)

A summary of the mural suggestions raised where respondents selected ‘Other’ has been grouped into six key themes:

1. Aquatic life and local fauna

• Strong support for featuring local marine life such as pelicans, fish (e.g. mulloway, flathead), and fauna of the Onkaparinga River.
• Suggestions include using the mural for educational purposes (e.g. naming fish species) and making it visually appealing to all ages and backgrounds.

2. Respect for Kaurna culture and history

• Several respondents supported incorporating Kaurna history and storytelling into the artwork, particularly the significance of the river to First Nations people.
• Some nuanced concerns were raised about using Kaurna themes on a toilet block, with calls for respectful placement and contextual sensitivity.

3. Natural environment and local landscape

• Interest in highlighting local flora, estuary landscapes, and broader environmental themes.
• Preferences for vibrant imagery representing marsh, riverbanks, and a cross-section of habitat.

4. Aquatic activities and local experiences

• Multiple mentions of swimming, fishing, canoeing, and early childhood memories tied to the river.
• Suggestions to include local recreational use and community interaction with the river environment.

5. Social themes and community connection

• A proposal to reflect the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence and broader themes of safety, healing, and trauma recovery.
• Interest in involving youth (e.g. Christies Beach High students) as co-creators to build community ownership.

6. Artistic style and mural tone

• Suggestions for abstract or non-specific colour blocks (e.g. burnt sunsets, lino print style).
• Requests for originality and inclusiveness—avoiding cliché or overused design styles.
• One comment questioned the mural’s necessity in light of council budgeting priorities.

Further comments and suggestions included:

• Multiple calls for dog bag dispensers and drinking fountains near the site
• Several suggestions to highlight Kaurna history sensitively and mixed feedback about appropriateness of mural placement on an amenities block
• Desire for vibrant, cohesive design that complements the natural environment
• Requests to avoid graffiti-style or overly abstract art