Now these powerful symbols of a distinctive culture will become part of Gunnedah's Rainbow Serpent water feature at the front of The Civic Centre on Chandos Street.

Glen Innes artist Max Powell, Jan Shedden and Jill Watkins taught the 10 women how to make the tiles and over a few years 32 tiles took shape depicting koalas, turtles, cockatoos, lizards, fish, Aboriginal tools, children's hands, and the Red Chief, among other images.

The original design of the rainbow serpent was developed by Mr Powell and fellow artist Bronwyn McKean from drawings completed by Aboriginal leader Ellen Draper.

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The NVI met with Gloria Foley, Rita Long, Shirley Long, June Cox and Janet Wanless on Tuesday to ask their thoughts on the recent choice of Waterforms International to deliver the $274,258 project.

"We're really excited. We can't wait for it to get started," Ms Cox said.

"A lot of people will pull up and look at it."

Ms Wanless said they met Waterform International's water fountain designer Dirk Slotboom a few years ago when they discussed using the tiles in a water feature.

"He's the only one who does it in Australia," she said.

Ms Foley said they liked his ideas and were glad they would be working with him.

"We liked him. We talked about everything. His ideas were really great," she said.

"This will be good for us and good for the community."

Gunnedah Shire Council and the Kamilaroi women will meet with the designer in the coming months to further the project.

The water feature will be completed by the end of the 2019-20 financial year.

The Rainbow Serpent project was awarded $155,725 through the $100 million NSW Government Regional Cultural Fund in December 2018, adding to the council's 54 per cent contribution to the total.

In 2016, the council approved funding of $25,000 for design and construction plans and in late 2018, allocated $150,000 to the project.

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