It will be a sculpture positioned in the form of a giant heart centred cross that will be illuminated on significant occasions such as Christmas, Easter and ANZAC day.

Parkes Shire Council unanimously approved a Development Application (DA) from local residents Ian and Marion Unger for the cross to be erected on their Reymond Street property, north-west of town.

The proposed steel sculpture will be 6.5 metres high and four metres in width.

The property of Mr and Mrs Unger is highly elevated with panoramic views of Parkes and the surrounds.

As such, the cross will be easily visible from all areas of Parkes and in particular that of the town’s churches.

That is why the couple will take advice from the local Ministers Association regarding significant days on which to illuminate the sculpture.

Disasters both national and international will also see the cross being lit up.

Mr Steven Campbell (Director Planning and Environment) said the DA had received support from the Parkes Ministers’ Association and adjoining property owners.

“As a result of the public exhibition process two submissions were received which included a letter of support and a late objection,” Mr Campbell said.

“The applicants have put in a lot of work into this well prepared DA which is permissible within the designated zone.

“There certainly isn’t any valid reason for the application not to be approved,” Mr Campbell said.

Mr and Mrs Unger were present in the public gallery when discussion took place at the most recent council meeting.

Mayor Ken Keith said he had visited the property to better gauge the DA proposal and in response to concerns raised by the applicant relating to the required 10 metre setback.

“My only thought was to support variation of the distance from both boundaries from 10 metres to seven metres so the sculpture can be more visible by all the churches in Parkes,” Cr Keith said.

Mr Campbell replied by indicating the seven metre distance was within acceptable guidelines for variation from (Development Control Plan (DCP) requirements.

Cr Bob Haddin enquired as to whether support of the DA might be setting a precedence.

“Say there was another half dozen applications for this type of thing around town, wouldn’t it be giving the wrong impression of what this town is all about?” Cr Haddin said.

“It could get really out of hand.

“My concern is that we live in a multicultural society and who’s to say there won’t be further applications of this type within the residential area of town. 

“I certainly have my doubts on this one,” Cr Haddin said.

Deputy Mayor Cr Alan Ward  said he supported Cr Haddin’s concerns.

“Council will need to be mindful of the residential area in regards to other applications of this nature,” Cr Ward said.

“However, in this instance there have been very few letters of complaint.”

Cr Barbara Newton said people with objections must be reassured the cross won’t be lit every night.

Mr Campbell pointed out that under the conditions of the DA, the most the structure will be allowed to be lit is 52 days over a 12 month period.

In reply to a query, Cr Louise O’Leary, was assured the illuminated cross would not impact on drivers travelling the Newell Highway.

Councillors Michael Greenwood and Patrica Smith both supported the proposal.

In the end, councillors voted unanimously in favour of the DA.