Katanning’s council has backed early plans to reconstruct the iconic “Drum Man” sculpture and develop a railway interpretive area.

The upgrades will take place at the Austral Terrace truck and caravan parking area with a key focus on art and local history.

The Drum Man, once a familiar sight in Katanning, would be rebuilt using recycled drums with opportunities for local businesses, artists and community groups to be involved in its reconstruction.

The project would also expand to include additional artwork reflecting key local industries such as agriculture and rail.

Alongside this, a railway interpretive area is proposed to highlight the town’s rich rail history.

Plans include installing a historic railway gate, incorporating artefacts and adding signage to tell the story of Katanning’s railway past.

The broader aim is to improve the visual appeal of the underutilised space while strengthening local identity and creating a point of interest for visitors.

The Shire of Katanning unanimously supported progressing the idea to the next stage but stopped short of full approval, requesting a detailed concept plan and costings before making a final decision.

The next phase will include design drawings, material specifications, construction methods, funding sources and long-term maintenance plans.

The project is expected to be largely community led with the shire providing support to ensure safety, compliance and coordination.

If approved, the development could enhance a prominent entry point into Katanning, encourage community involvement and celebrate the town’s heritage in a creative and engaging way.

The council will review further details once they are prepared before deciding whether to fully commit to the project.

Speaking at the council’s meeting on April 21, Cr Paul Totino said it would be great to liven up the area with historical aspects.

“It’s great to see a proposal to put something in that part of town that’s quite under utilised and given the railway history of Katanning . . . its an acknowledgement of what was there,” he said.

“I think it would add a visual appeal to the area.”

Cr Ian Hanna said these projects proved that the community was passionate about restoring the town’s history.

“I think one of the beauties of this is that it’s a community-led project so it shows the engagement with our community and their passion for restoring our history for generations to come,” he said.