Altona's iconic sunflower painting is getting spruced up this summer. Cameron Cross is the original artist behind the mammoth Vincent Van Gogh likeness and will get to work in the next two weeks repairing hail damage from a number of years ago.

Mayor Melvin Klassen explained that along with the repairs, Cross will also apply a restoration chemical that should keep the painting from damaging easily in the future. "We're hoping that'll last for ten to fifteen years."

An additional improvement will see a hydraulic lift installed on the 23-metre high easel that holds the painting. According to Klassen, this will make the process of taking down the art and raising it up again easier in the future.

All said and done, the project will run about $35,000.

Klassen noted that lowering the painting and then returning it to the easel will involve the operation of a crane and is the biggest expense of the whole operation coming in around $15,000. He explained that the Town will cover this portion of the bill while insurance money will pay for the remainder.

Meantime, Council took some time considering the future of the 19 year old Altona landmark as it had become quite expensive and time consuming to maintain. The painting is one of three Van Gogh pieces that Cross has erected around the world, and the artist has plans for more, and Klassen noted this also played into Council's decision.

"If we took this away on him if we changed it here, what would that do to his plans?"

Cameron Cross will repair some hail damage that the painting sustained a number of years ago