Falinski wary of Manly’s Sculpture by the Sea bid

Federal MP Jason Falinski has questioned Northern Beaches Council on its bid to snatch Sculpture by the Sea from its Waverly counterparts.

His comments followed a press call by a united front of Manly Warringah’s local, state and federal members in July, urging organisers to consider Manly to host the annual sculpture festival from 2020.

This came on the back of allegations the event organiser, David Handley, has fallen out with Waverly Council over the installation of a new disability access path around the perimeter of Marks Park headland, the centre of the public art exhibition.

Despite widespread public support following the announcement of the bid by Warringah Federal MP Zali Steggall, Manly State MP James Griffin and Northern Beaches mayor Michael Regan, Mr Falinski has queried the feasibility and prudence of Northern Beaches Council hosting the multi-million-dollar event.

“Sorry to be the voice of reason here, but when I was on Council, we tried to get Sculpture by the Sea but were told it was not affordable. So, what has changed?” he says in a series of tweets on Twitter.

He highlighted Council’s controversial $13 million in spending to replace all household garbage bins and the recent amalgamation costs to then ask whether any remaining funds might better be spent on the backlog of local infrastructure projects.

“Is this the best use of our rates?” he tweets.

Mr Falinski also emphasised the lack of parking to accommodate the 450,000 that attend the event each year.

However, Mayor Regan believes this will not be issue, as the Manly Ferry will provide public transport from the city.

“Manly has everything over Bondi, it’s too long a list to go through right now,” he says.

“There would be no better home for Sculpture by the Sea than in Manly and up the Northern Beaches.”