The chances of the Starlight drive-in theatre sign being lit have taken a blow, as the apartment owners at its traditional home confirmed their opposition this week.
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But the concerns of the Starlight owners corporation in Watson, which included maintenance and electricity costs for the taxpayer and glare, have been rejected by the sign's rescue committee, which blamed the former owners for abandoning the heritage-listed advertiser.
Rescue committee member Laurie McDonald, who visited the rundown sign at a government depot together with signwriters this week, said the repair plan the committee was working on would include measures to reduce light fears.
"There is surely a way to compromise here and that's what we will be aiming for," Ms McDonald said.
"The nearby residents were responsible for maintaining the sign but sadly abandoned it to decompose to the point that it was almost completely lost, and only acted to do anything for the sign as a way of getting rid of the 'problem'."
The Starlight owners corporation executive committee issued a statement where it said it supported the preservation of the sign – which it agreed to donate to the ACT government last month – but said if it had to be lit it might be better displayed at one of Canberra's museums.
"[If lit at its old site] it could create an adverse glare for the nearby residents, might give the false impression to tourists that the drive-in is still operating, [and] might attract the kind of vandals who wrecked the sign before it was taken down," the statement said.
Ms McDonald said the sign had sat for nearly 20 years since its closure in 1993 without creating a false impression for tourists, and said there was a risk of vandalism regardless of the sign being lit.
Veteran Canberra signwriter Joe Deren, whose parents visited the theatre weekly for "Ranch Night" showings, said the base connected to the sign would probably have to be cut off and replaced but a full repair could occur.
"All the internals are fine, we'd obviously have to come to today's [electrical] standards," Mr Deren said.
"You can minimise the amount of light that comes out of it, potentially LEDs could be used."
The ACT government has committed to re-raise the sign near its traditional position on the Federal Highway in Watson, but not to light it.
A spokesman for the Chief Minister said the sign's heritage significance and registration did not require it to be lit, although "this could be explored with the owners corporation should a proposal to light the sign be made to the government".
