Nowra landmark dispute over helicopter replica placement

A dispute has emerged regarding the placement of a new helicopter landmark in Nowra, Australia. Following the removal of the original UH-1B Iroquois helicopter in September 2023, a community poll determined that a replica of a modern MH-60R Seahawk Romeo should be installed to represent the fleet at HMAS Albatross.

Fiona Phillips, the Federal Member for Gilmore, stated that the Defence-funded project is ready to move into the manufacturing and site scoping stages. However, she accused the Shoalhaven Council of obstructing the process. Phillips argued that the replica should be returned to its original gateway location, dismissing council concerns regarding driver distraction or site size as invalid.

Proposed plans for the replica include mounting it in a banking turn position to minimize its footprint. Phillips noted that as a replica, the scale and size of the monument can be adjusted to accommodate site requirements.