The West Tamar Youth Advisory Council, with Riverside High School, Riverside Primary School and artist Annette Fleming have been working on the project. 

The project began late last year when YAC member Hamish Watson brought up the “unsavoury” state of the Riverside underpass, which had been targeted by graffiti.

On March 1, members from West Tamar’s YAC, Riverside High School and Riverside Primary school met with a representative from the Department of State Growth and decided on an underwater theme for the underpass makeover.

Mid-April, the department organised for the underpass to be cleaned and repainted blue and grey to suit the theme.

Bunnings North Launceston donated a range of paints and materials, which YAC members and Fleming used to outline the primary school students’ designs last week.

Students from both schools then joined YAC members and Fleming to start colouring in the sea creatures and underwater scenery.

The group will continue working on the project together until its completion at the end of the month.

The council expects the project to be completed by the end of the month.

State Growth will add an anti-graffiti coat once the project is completed. 

West Tamar mayor Christina Holmdahl said YAC had a long-standing association with the underpass, as the group members have previously repainted it. 

“We as a council have always tried to promote the youth in our municipality. The walls of the underpass had been vandalised and it needed a freshen up,” Cr Holmdahl said. 

“We are so supportive of the work that YAC do. It’s one committee we feel has to be supported.”

Cr Holmdahl said the council has many committees, but YAC was one in particular the whole council felt was important. 

The council said it has had a strong relationship with state growth, and work well together to ensure the underpass is a safe space for the community.