The Gold Coast's M1 Mural along a stretch of road at Palm Beach has long been a colourful and cherished artwork for residents and visitors.
But now as major road works to widen the Gold Coast's M1 pushes forward, the fate of 178 children's faces painted on the mural hangs in the balance with the Department of Transport and Main Roads warning "you can't save it all'.
Division 13 Councillor Daphne McDonald was there when the names of the children to feature on the mural were drawn out of a competition barrel more than 20 years ago.
"Most of those on the mural are of children — they're adults now — they were people from the area," she said.
"It's a shame if we can't retain those sorts of things."
Cr McDonald recognised the contribution of those who painted the mural and hoped some of the faces could be saved.
The wall has to be moved
Department of Transport and Main Roads regional director of the South Coast Region Paul Noonan says they've addressed concerns around the mural over the past year.
"We're well and truly aware that there is a degree of community concern about losing the noise barrier and that's what it is unfortunately," he said.
"The barrier has to be moved.
"We are in the process of appointing a contractor, and until we do that and explain the situation to the contractor we don't really know what methodology or what could be done to preserve a part of the barrier with the children's faces on."
Mr Noonan said removing the murals intact would be an extremely difficult process given that the faces had been painted over the horizontal concrete panels, adhesives, and vertical support posts.
"You can't save it all," he said.
Where would they go?
Mr Noonan says he's tried to engage Council to identify a suitable place for the relocation of the panels.
"We haven't arrived at a solution there — I think it's a joint solution that we'll have to reach if we can salvage some of it," he said.
"It does have to be replaced and we just have to make sure that if a contractor can save some of it, that there's appropriate consultation for those people whose children or those adults now whose faces might disappear.
"Who makes the decision on which of those faces can be retained and which ones can't — that's not a choice I want to make.
"I think that would lead to more community concern for those that miss out."
Mr Noonan said there was "preservation underway" in the form of a book by Gold Coast photojournalist Maleika Halpin to be titled Children Of The Freeway.
"That will be available to preserve the memory of the barrier in perpetuity," he said.
