PLANNING is under way to install 25 people poles in St Marys, in a bid to capitalise on the tourism traffic that flows through the town.
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Stage one of the The People's Pole Project began last week with a campaign to secure funds.
Project co-ordinator Diana Foster said a consultant had been approached to complete an application for a Tasmanian Community Fund grant.
Mrs Foster said the poles would draw on the history and diversity of St Marys, and would be created by sculptor John McColl and artist Willow Meadows.
The first stage would include two portable poles that could be shown to potential sponsors.
"We hope to have them in by January next year or ideally before Christmas this year," Mrs Foster said.
"People drive straight through St Marys, they don't stop.
"We are one of the poorest towns in Australia ... so we are trying to promote the arts and tourism to get people to come here and stop.
"We would have a thing like a timber worker, miner, an old-style grocer outside the supermarket and some of the families here have expressed interest in sponsoring a pole that represents one of their ancestors.
"They would be similar to Geelong's, but a little more quirkier than them."
Once the poles were installed, Mrs Foster said there was a proposal to run an annual St Marys sculpting-painting competition.
The Break O'Day Council has sounded its support for the project.