After years creating a unique rural machinery art installation on his rural Queensland property, a complaint to council left 83-year-old Jim Sauer little choice but to demolish his quirky display.
Just months after making headlines, Mr Sauer received notice from the Bundaberg Regional Council that his artistic sculpture trail was unlawful building work and required development approval.
More than 12 structures including cars, trucks, a plane, a boat, and bikes line the South Kolan property on the outskirts of Bundaberg, 400 kilometres north of Brisbane.
In January he was given six weeks to comply and obtain building approvals for the structures, modify them to be under three metres total height, or remove them altogether.
That deadline was later extended until the end of June.
Mr Sauer said he tried to speak to council about what could be done, but said lowering the machinery would create problems.
“I’d have vandals and kids and goodness knows who else trying to climb in and play with the instruments or try and fly the plane,” Mr Sauer said.
“They are a lot safer where they are.
“Besides that, I can keep it nice and tidy and clean around them.”
Push to save ‘brilliant’ attraction
Mr Sauer was in the process of selling his machinery and making dirt ramps to remove the installations when the Bundaberg community caught wind of what was going on.
Whitney Woodfield from nearby Gin Gin saw on social media that the attraction was in danger and started an online petition that garnered more than 9,000 signatures in just 36 hours.
Ms Woodfield said she hoped to prove to Bundaberg Regional Council that the community cared about preserving attractions such as this.
“There’s not a lot out there, and having something like that brings so many people to the area. And they get to see more of the Bundaberg region,” Ms Woodfield said.
“I honestly think it’s a brilliant thing to have in our community. As a local I’ve seen so many things get shut down over the years and it’s like ‘no, we have to fight for this, we have to preserve it’.”
South Kolan Pub owner Alec Duffy said patrons asked for directions to the display every weekend.
“Jim’s art installation has definitely put us on a stage, which is a great thing,” Mr Duffy said.
“It’s important that we get new interest in our community.”
Just weeks from the local government election, mayoral candidates including incumbent Mayor Jack Dempsey were quick to promise that Jim’s machinery installation would remain.
Cr Dempsey said the matter had been temporarily resolved and red tape “removed” with a further extension on the council notice until the end of 2024.
“We are able to get a way forward to get it sorted and make sure we get the compliance issues … in relation to the height of the items, the safety of the items, and the closeness to the borderline proximity,” Cr Dempsey said.
“While the matter is extended we want to try and nullify those state government requirements, and I think they can be achieved.”
Mr Sauer was emotional and found it hard to talk about removing his machinery, but said it was wonderful to receive the news the structures did not have to go.
“They’d all be pulled down by now if it wasn’t for the support,” Mr Sauer said.
“The amount of people that stood by me … has turned the council around, to give me a hand, and to say it can all stay.”
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