The planned replacement of Melbourne's controversial 'Red Stair' public artwork has stalled, with no updates on the design competition a year after it was announced.
The City of Melbourne's initiative to replace the 'Red Stair,' a much-maligned public artwork located in Southbank, has encountered significant delays. Initially set to proceed following an international design competition scheduled for early 2025, the project is now over a year behind schedule without any official updates from the council. The 'Red Stair', installed in 2006, has faced ongoing criticism and deterioration, being labeled as 'ugly' and 'untidy' due to its graffiti-ridden appearance and decay over the years. Despite the initial enthusiasm for redesigning this polarizing structure, there are growing concerns about potential financial constraints that could be contributing to the holdup in the project's progress. As residents and critics express their frustration, the council has indicated that it will release more information regarding the stalled project in the near future. The future of Southbank's 'Red Stair' remains uncertain as community members await clarity on whether the redesign will ultimately move forward or be further delayed.
