Public Art Opportunity - North Creek Road Water Reservoir

Ballina Shire Council is seeking an artist to create visually interesting art that responds to the local setting for the prominent North Creek Road water reservoir site in Lennox Head.

Local mural and graphic artists are encouraged to apply. Installation is to be completed by a commercial painting contractor.

Site Details and Artwork specifications

Site address: 28 North Creek Road, Lennox Head

Final artwork design requirements:

• Dimensions of artwork area: Certain areas of the reservoir cannot host artwork due to telco attachments and operational requirements (see images 5 to 8). Areas to be covered by artwork are as follows:
• Section 1 43.5m2 (8.7m long x 5m high)
• Section 2 12.8m2 (3.2m around the ladder cage x 4m high)
• Section 3 203.5m2 (40.7m long x 5m high)
• Section 4 37.5m2 (5m long x 7.5 m high).
• View Corridors: The North Creek Road water reservoir is visible from three key vantage points – North Creek Road (See images 1 and 4 in the EOI Information Pack(PDF, 708KB)) from a distance on Hutley Drive (See images 2 and 3 in the EOI Information Pack(PDF, 708KB)) and The Coast Rd.
• The art design must not cover the telco attachments or signage however some conduit may be covered (this will be further discussed with the artist once engaged).
• A palette of 3-4 paint colours is to be suggested by the artist to compliment the artwork and cover areas of the tank not visible at a distance.
• The main art elements should be viewed from North Creek Road and Hutley Drive. Images 5 to 8 in the EOI Information Pack(PDF, 708KB) specify the areas on the reservoir that can host artwork.
• Style: Bold shapes and/or patterns that can be viewed and recognised from a distance with clean lines and a cohesive theme. Abstract and simple illustrative styles or silhouettes may be appropriate as could designs that serve to blend the reservoir into the surrounding landscape.
• Elements: Artwork should be relevant to the context of the Lennox Head locality. May include elements that symbolize water conservation, local environment and nature or local community.

Application and Selection Process

There are three stages to the artist selection process:

1. Expression of Interest from artists (current stage)
2. Concept design submission by shortlisted artists
3. Final Design submission by selected artist

Artists should be aware that this EOI is the first stage in a three stage process and that invitations to progress to the next stage to submit concept designs will only be sent to a short list drawn from the artists who respond to this invitation to express interest. Artists should note that the information in these EOI Guidelines are provided for the purpose of obtaining EOI’s only and is not intended to form a binding contract between Council and any interested party. Details and requirements of each stage are included below.

Stage 1 – Expression of Interest (Current Stage)

Requirements and Selection Criteria

To submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for this project, artists/designers need to provide the following information via the online application form (link) by 4pm Friday 14 November 2025.

Eligibility:

- Be an Australian citizen or resident or hold a valid work permit

- Live in or have a connection to the Northern Rivers

- Possess a registered ABN

- Willingness to work collaboratively with Council staff and commercial contractors (painters) to guide the application of the artwork.

EOI Selection Criteria:

1. Demonstrated experience working on projects of a similar nature, scale and complexity. Upload up to 10 examples of previous artwork, especially any public artwork or murals.

2. Brief written response to the project opportunity including relevant previous experience, preliminary ideas, themes or draft concepts that may be suitable for the project (maximum 2 x A4 pages).

3. Ability to achieve project according to timeline and budget.

Technical Specifications:

File Format: Provide all EOI information in pdf format.

If applicants are unsuccessful in the EOI there will be no further communication from Council in regards to the project. Successful applicants will be invited to participate in Stage 2.

Stage 2 - Concept Design and Presentation

After EOI’s have been received and assessed, submissions will be shortlisted, and successful artists will be invited to submit a concept design (Stage 2). Shortlisted artists will be paid for concept development and a brief presentation to Council’s Public Art Advisory Panel (either in-person or online).

 Artists/designers should consider the following when designing their artwork:

The Artwork will engage with viewers from both driver and pedestrian perspectives, which requires the imagery on the tank to be decipherable at varying speeds and distances.

The design should not be over complicated and be easy to interpret from a distance.

The design is to be transferred by a commercial painter onto the concrete water reservoir exterior.

Highly detailed work is not appropriate due to the difficulty in transferability by the commercial painter.

The design should respond to the context of the site and be relevant to the wider locality of Lennox Head.

Concept submission requirements:

• Preliminary drawings, sketches and / or digital images indicating the artwork, location, scale and colour of the artwork, up to 10 images.
• Written description of the artwork and response to the site. Provide the theme, story or meaning behind the concept design and how it responds to the site - maximum 1 x A4 page.
• Presentation (no longer than 15 mins) to Council’s Public Art Advisory Panel either in-person or online.

Concept Design Selection Criteria:

• Creativity, originality and innovation of concept design
• Consistency of concept design with final artwork design requirements
• Technical feasibility and ability to achieve project according to timeline and budget.

Budget: $500 for each shortlisted artist

Technical Specifications:

• File Format: PowerPoint or pdf presentation.

Stage 3 - Final Design

Selected artist to develop their concept design into the final artwork (see Site Details and Artwork Specifications) for the specified surface area on the North Creek Rd water reservoir based on concepts presented in the Stage 2.

An artist fee of $1000 will paid for the new work. A further $5000 for a reproduction licence will be provided for the use of the selected design for a period of 25 years. 

 Contractors will then be engaged to install (paint) the selected design onto the reservoir.

Budget: $1000 for artwork (new work) +$5000 licensing fee for 25years.

Technical Specifications:

• File Format: Provide the final design in high-resolution digital format (e.g., .AI, .PSD, .EPS).
• Resolution: Minimum resolution of 300 DPI.
• Suggested complimentary colours: A palette of 3-4 paint colours to be suggested by the artist to
• compliment the design and cover areas not suitable for feature artwork.
• Scalability: The design should be scalable without loss of quality. More information and application

Indicative Timeline

Submit EOI (Stage 1): 14 November 2025

Shortlisted artists invited to prepare concept designs (Stage 2): 21 November 2025

Short listed artists to submit concept design: 5 December 2025

Shortlisted artists present concept design (week beginning): 8 December 2025

Artist invited to submit final design (Stage 3): 12 December 2025

Finalisation of art design: 23 January 2026

Fabrication and installation of artwork: March - June 2026To view more images of the water reservoir download the Expression of Interest document below.

EOI - Public Art - North Creek Water Reservoir - Information Pack(PD

Further Enquiries

Brigid Pearse – Strategic Planner (Tuesdays and Wednesdays), email council@ballina.nsw.gov.au or call Council on 1300 864 444.