Lithgow Council to not proceed with acquisition of World War II artillery gun

Lithgow City Council has decided not to proceed with the acquisition of a World War II artillery gun.

Despite receiving 11 letters of submission in favour of the weapon, Council couldn't ignore the expenditure for the delivery of the weapon.

It is anticipated the initial cost for transport, mounting, fencing, soft fall ground covers and associated costs could be in the order of at least $15,000.

In the Council report, they stated there was no provision within this year's budget nor the draft 2021/22 budget for this expenditure. There is no provision for the on-going maintenance, security, and care of the artillery gun.

Councillor Joe Smith said if they were having a great year and were financial enough he would put his hand up and say "yes let's get the artillery gun" but since council is struggling he can't justify doing that.

"I know there are some returned servicemen interested in this but how do we justify to the ratepayers that we are going to spend ratepayers' money on buying something we don't need?" he said.

"When we are in a better financial position, take it up then, it might not sound like a lot of money to certain people but $15,000 is a lot of money."

Cr Deanna Goodsell said they had to think about what services would be cut if they were to spend the money on this weapon, while Cr Cass Coleman said the level of support outweighed those who didn't want the weapon.

"I believe the point has been missed, it is irrelevant that there is no link between servicemen using the weapon and Lithgow. Lithgow has a rich manufacturing history, weapons are still being made in Lithgow at the same site as 100 years ago," she said.

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"I understand we don't have the budget this year but getting this weapon would be so easy, it is a gift from the federal government and we are not paying for the gun. You never look a gift horse in the mouth, this would be a missed opportunity."

A number of submissions suggested locating the gun outside the Small Arms Factory Museum, but The Museum do not see the gun as being compatible with their current and future objectives.

Cr Wayne McAndrew said that while there were positive submissions, some of those supported talk of locating the weapon at the Small Arms Factory.

"We have been told time and time again that they don't want it, it is the Small Arms Factory Museum's choice and they...don't...want...it," he said.

"We have a lot of community needs, so what else needs to suffer in our community if we spend the money on this item."

Lithgow RSL Sub-Branch suggested the gun be sited at Queen Elizabeth Park but Council's officers do not consider this to be an appropriate location as the existing items recognise the Lithgow community's participation in active service and this gun is not related to Lithgow.

Cr Steve Ring said the gun had no historical value in this town and with no grants available for the weapon, he put his support behind other heritage items in town that could use the money.

Cr Stephen Lesslie thought the weapon would be great for kids to see, since the gun emplacements around town are always getting used.

"I think the adventure playground would be the perfect spot if the Small Arms Factory Museum didn't want it," he said.

"I think it would be a good asset to get."

Cr Maree Statham said the Wallerawang Progress Association would love to acquire the gun as a tourist attraction for Wallerawang.

"It might not have a direct link but it is an extension of our ammunition history and I would be willing to put $1000 of own money towards this, and get sponsors over next month," she said.

"It is not a lot of money and this is something we don't have it here, it is something new and I would be delighted to see it go to Wang.

"They [Wallerawang Progress Association] would give a small donation and I can get the remainder of the money. If we can't get the money then it's a poor show."

The weapon is a surplus 5.5 inch artillery gun from the Australian Defence Force.

The gun is approximately seven-and-a-half metres long, has a barrel length of four metres and weighs approximately six tonnes.

Manufactured in Britain, it is of a different type to those at the South Bowenfels gun emplacement site and the existing gun adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth Park Cenotaph.

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