Lake Macquarie council is set to place a draft public art strategy on exhibition but not without a bitter debate about whether its future funding could be better spent on "kerb and guttering".
The Urban & Public Art Strategy 2019-29 will go on exhibition next week but the council voted on Monday to wait for feedback before adopting it.
The strategy has been developed to guide delivery of public art in the city and includes a string of aspirational projects council hopes to implement through mainly external grants.
One of the proposals is a $500,000 "iconic" art project to be completed in the 10-year period, while others are smaller in value and more regular projects.
There was confusion about the funding of the projects early in the debate after Cr Gilbert moved an amendment proposing deferral until council assess the funding against the installation of "kerb and guttering to all sealed roads".
It was deemed out of order as staff said none of the projects had funding allocated in the budget.
It was then revealed $1.1 million in operational funding would be spent over ten years and the proposed projects reflected the value of external grants received in previous years for public art.
Cr Pauling said the concept was "relevantly sound" but some residents might express concerns about still not having kerb and guttering.
He moved an amendment for deferral until more funding information could be received but it was defeated.
Cr Belcher said "$1.1 million over 10 years" was a "minuscule" amount to spend.
Cr Gilbert said it was not a "minuscule amount" to residents without kerb and guttering. "It's a problem throughout the city," he said.
Cr Adamthwaite said they were comparing "apples and oranges" with the two topics.
Cr Baker said art was a "nice" thing to have, but should not be a priority.
"What concerns me is that we're not actually looking at the priorities of where our money is spent," he said.
Cr Adamthwaite moved an amendment that after exhibition the strategy be brought back to be adopted.
"It is not fair to characterize this debate as public art versus kerb and guttering," he said.
"We're talking about $110,000 a year. It's not going to change a lot in terms of ... kerb and guttering."
Cr Pauling said the strategy was "misleading", a term condemned by mayor Kay Fraser who tried to force him to retract his comments.
Cr Fraser slammed the comparisons and said public art was good for tourism.
When the amendment was voted on, Cr Pauling left the chamber. He later said he was "censored" by the mayor who cut off his microphone but he maintained his view.
Cr Cubis said he had multiple resident emails with road and footpath complaints.
"Most of our residents would prefer those things over public art," he said.
Cr Langford said council could "do more than just roads, rates and rubbish" and that art was connected to the council's overarching values and community plan.
"Our community plan is built upon values. We, as a community, have determined there are seven values that underpin the workings and operation of this council," he said.
"This strategy is part of the process of keeping faith with those values."
Cr Adamthwaite's amendment became the motion and passed with a 9-4 vote.
The strategy will be on exhibition for four weeks.
