The Remembrance Driveway plaques have a new future home, but one resident has questioned whether it would be the best move.
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The plaques are set to be removed from Remembrance Driveway in Berrima and put into Memorial Park in Mittagong, opposite the Mittagong Caravan Park.
Wingecarribee Shire Council has agreed to the relocation of the plaques.
Remembrance Driveway committee members, responsible for maintaining Remembrance Driveway, will collect the plaques prior to their relocation.
According to the committee, the plaques will be moved to Mittagong due to prohibitive maintenance costs and to increase public visibility.
Stephen Webb has been cutting the grass at the Remembrance Driveway site for about 30 years.
This was up until the maintenance funding was cut recently.
Mr Webb said some of the plaques were not visible to passersby, as trees and bushes had grown over them.
He also said the grass at several of the sites was long and snakes were often found in the area.
Mr Webb said his primary concern was not financial, but rather heritage preservation and ensuring the plaques were viewed by as many people as possible.
“It’s original heritage that’s been here since 1956,” he said.
“I’m not looking for grass cutting work. In dollars it’s not much to maintain it.
Mr Webb said he was told the plaques’ stones would be destroyed when the plaques were relocated.
“It’s just a terrible shame,” he said.
“If we remove this I feel like we’re tearing our heritage apart.”
He said during his time maintaining the area, he had seen many Highlanders and visitors stop and pay their respects to the men and women who had served.
“I don’t think anyone goes [to the park in Mittagong],” he said.
“Over the years I’ve had thousands of people come through here.”
Wingecarribee Shire Council mayor Duncan Gair said the maintenance was the responsibility of the Remembrance Driveway committee, however if there was an official request to council, councillors would consider all available options.
This includes seeking grants from the state and federal government.
Mayor Gair said the relocation of the plaques to Mittagong would provide strong visibility.
“It’s the busiest section on the road. I think you’d be looking at 30,000 cars a day,” he said.
Mayor Gair said the preservation of the plaques and Remembrance Driveway was important.
“The plaques and Remembrance Driveway will be continually looked after,” Mayor Gair said. “If that comes back to council, I’d be supportive that we maintained them.
“We would also be seeking some form of long term grant.”
The Remembrance Driveway Committee has created a living tribute along the highways between Sydney and Canberra.
This was to commemorate all those who had served in the Australian Defence Forces during World War 2 and subsequent conflicts and peace keeping missions.
The driveway also commemorates those who currently serve in operational theatres around the world.
The Remembrance Driveway Committee was formed in April 1952 to investigate planting avenues of trees and establishing groves and memorial parks.
According to the Roads and Maritime Services, in 1954 the Queen and Prince Philip launched the Remembrance Driveway when they each planted a Plane tree in Macquarie Place, Sydney to mark the Sydney end of the Driveway.
In 2002 three Red Spotted Gums were planted by the Governor-General in the Remembrance Park, behind the Australian War Memorial, Canberra to mark the Canberra end of the Driveway.
The Remembrance Driveway committee has been contacted for comment.
