Gunnedah Shire Council hit a stumbling block in the timeline of constructing the Rainbow Serpent water feature when it received no tenders for the project.
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Despite tenders being open for a month, the council received no submissions, so will invite contractors it believes are suitable.
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At Wednesday's council meeting, corporate and community services director Colin Formann said the matter led him to believe "there is not a significant interest out there from the type of companies monitoring those tenders".
"If we go to tender again I don't believe the result will be any different from last time," he said.
Councillors resolved to authorise the council to obtain quotes and engage "suitably qualified contractors".
The water feature will be constructed at the front of the Civic Centre and will feature more than 20 mosaic tiles.
Mr Formann said it was a "somewhat complex job" and "a new approach is needed".
"The council resolution allows us to directly approach companies that may be suitable," he said.
"We'll start [looking] locally and see if we can find any contractors who would have the experience and skill to take on the project.
"We'll be assessing who might be available and contacting them shortly. Failing that we'll have to look further afield."
The council resolution allows us to directly approach companies that may be suitable.
- Colin Formann, corporate and community services director
At the meeting, councillor Owen Hasler was "extremely disappointed" by the news, saying that it had taken a "considerable length of time it has taken to get to this point".
"I'm extremely disappointed at this outcome today ... I was looking forward to the construction of this monument," he said.
"This was going to be a proud recognition of our Aboriginal heritage, or will be, when it is completed."
Mr Formann said the concept design for the water feature was complete but the preliminary design needed to be finalised with the chosen contractors before they started the work.
The council is hopeful local Kamilaroi people will be involved in laying the tiles.
Years in the making
Plans for the water feature started in 2003, with the original design developed by Glen Innes artists Max Powell and Bronwyn McKean from drawings completed by Aboriginal leader Ellen Draper.
About ten women worked on the mosaic tiles, cutting and placing fragments of different coloured tiles to create images of fish and animals, and hands, using the palms of June Cox's grandchildren.
Funding for design and construction plans was approved in 2016 and in December 2018, Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson announced $155,725 in state funding under the Regional Cultural Fund, adding to the council's 54 per cent contribution to the total.
