Painted piece to preserve Gong scenery

A VISUAL artist is looking to immortalise the tree-lined embankment of the Buninyong Botanic Gardens’ Gong Reservoir as part of her latest project.

Having lived in the region for nearly four decades, Trudy Nicholson has long wanted to create a work of art around the site.

“It’s always been a peaceful and calming place and the water birds that frequent it help,” she said.

Commissioned by fellow creative Merle Hathaway, Nicholson said now is the perfect time given the City of Ballarat’s plan to remove much of the current vegetation from the embankment for safety reasons.

“The fact it’s all seemingly to be disrupted, that vision is going to be lost,” she said.

“If it’s known more how this place is so important to animal life and people, people can get a bit of insight and there can be more discussions around what can be done to help it.

“Merle asked me if I could do a piece as well, so I thought that’s a good initiative. It’ll either be a pastel piece or watercolour piece.

“I don’t do much in watercolour but the subject really lends itself. It depends on what works.”

The City of Ballarat first introduced the idea of removing the Gong’s tree line when the reservoir’s wall was identified as a public safety risk in 2019.

To be implemented as part of the Buninyong Botanic Gardens Landscape Masterplan adopted last year, the subsequent reconstruction of the reservoir’s wall would see much of the site’s vegetation replaced with footpaths, topsoil relevelling, and a new stone wall.

Hathaway has been advocating against the decision with Save Our Gong and Gardens, and Friends of Buninyong Botanic Gardens.

Late last month, she created a petition to both the municipality and Heritage Victoria calling for an alternative plan to mitigate flood risk, which is nearing 1500 signatures.

“Every day I walk my dog through the gardens,” Hathaway said.

“There are so many water birds that come out through the willows. It’s their protection and shade.”

With the tender for the project released in August, Hathaway said it’s important to have Nicholson’s work as an artistic document of the Gong before its impending overhaul.

“I’m also a member of Buninyong Historical Society and we’re always looking for records of what things looked like originally,” she said.

“The lake’s grown in beauty over the years. Derick Leather, a former mayor, actually planted out the west side embankment so those trees are part of his legacy.

“Trudy’s piece could be displayed any time we’re talking about the lake. If we lose the willows, I think it would end up in the historical society’s collection.”

City of Ballarat director of infrastructure and environment Bridget Wetherall said although the tender for the project is yet to be awarded, it’s important development is carried out.

“The dam wall was not constructed to required standards,” she said.

“For this reason, the City of Ballarat needs to act to mitigate the risk to preserve the Gong Dam and to also mitigate the risk of flooding to our community.

“We have a responsibility and a duty of care to proceed with the planning, design and reconstruction of the dam wall.

“The next available window for construction will be during the drier months between September 2025 and March 2026.

“We value residents’ feedback and will continue to work with nearby residents and community members as work progresses on this project.”