Swan Hill has the potential to cash in on the silo art trail.
The GrainCorp Silos, left disused beside the train tracks, have been earmarked as a potential canvas for the project.
GrainCorp regional manager Peter Johnston said while the silos were currently sitting idle, with no plans for them to be demolished or redeveloped, there was potential for the community to take ownership of a project that would benefit the town.
“I think (silo art) would be a fantastic re-purposing of these assets,” Mr Johnston said.
“They don’t suit modern bulk handlers’ requirements and under today’s needs they are not as efficient as what we need to remain world class.”
Mr Johnston said other GrainCorp silo sites were turned into art after the community saw the structures as an opportunity to put their town on the map.
“We have around five artworks that are ongoing at the moment, it does require a lot of management and oversight,” he said.
“It’s something we would entertain in combination with council and community groups, without making any commitments.”
Mr Johnston said GrainCorp would be open to the discussion of transforming the silos into artwork if the community expressed enough interest in the project.
“We have had some discussion with interested parties in regards to development of the site, in collaboration with the local council,” he said.
“But there is no firm plans to knock them to the ground.”
GrainCorp corporate affairs manager Luke O’Donnell said while GrainCorp were open to conversation with the appropriate bodies and providing the canvas, any project had to be funded by the community.
“We don’t contribute financially to the silo art projects, we are happy to provide the canvas as long as the artwork is not political, commercial or religious in nature,” Mr O’Donnell said.
To read more about this story, grab a copy of Monday’s Guardian (April 24).
