Waimate's proposed $170,000 wallaby icon has been dropped.
In Timaru this week, the Waimate District Council ditched the idea after hearing 25 objections to it during annual plan submissions.
Wallabies roam wild in the area.
But acting Mayor John Coles said submissions from ratepayers sent a clear message the icon was not wanted.
Councillor Cedric Coll said that in all his years sitting through annual plans, no issue had raised more objection from ratepayers.
But Mayor David Owen, who is taking time off to recover from a heart attack, was "mightily disappointed" to hear the icon had been scrapped.
However, the marsupials were not canned altogether, with $10,000 put up for developing a wallaby emblem.
Councillor Robin Murphy envisaged beacon wallabies located round the district to point to its attractions.
"People will know that if they see the wallaby there is something there worth looking at. We are trying to brand the district.
"There are a lot of Waimate attractions scattered around the district and the wallaby could show them the way."
- NZPA
