The brainchild of Christine Weston from Cumnock and Debbie Blatch from Yeoval, the project will not feature live animals but will consist of 120km of paddock art with the theme based on animals on bikes.

Beginning at Molong and ending in Dubbo, the idea is to get as many farmers and community members as possible to become involved in creating a sculpture which will feature in paddocks, turning the road into a must-see.

Mrs Weston said with Obley Road located between the region’s three major tourist destination’s the Wellington Caves, Parkes Radio Telescope and Taronga Western Plains Zoo, the sculptures would add to people’s trips.

“We wanted to make the drive a bit of a visual fantasy for children,” Mrs Weston said.

“Both Debbie and myself had a fun childhood where we experienced things like windmill spotting games on long trips, and this is an extension of that.

“During the Mulga Bill Festival two years ago bikes were placed in trees and that created a bit of interest with the kids trying to count them, and we thought that with the Dubbo zoo on this road we would combine the two and make something a bit obscure.”

While no sculptures have yet been made, plenty of interest has already been shown for the idea with artists, men’s sheds and mayors coming on board to create their own animals.

“It’s much larger than just being about paddock sculptures, it’s a way or promoting art and rural creativity in rural NSW,” Mrs Weston said.

“We’ve invited the six mayors from the region to participate and create their own masterpiece and encourage everyone to enter.

“We have counted 100 addresses of people who own properties along the drive and while some will not have time to make a sculpture, they have donated paddock space, so you don’t have to be a farmer to enter.”

The only requirements for the sculptures is that they must be two metres in height, or taller and must be related to an animal on a bike in some way.

“It can be any type of animal, reptile, bird, mammal and the bike is not restricted to just push bikes. It can be motorbikes, penny farthings, unicycles - anything that gives the impression of a bike.”

A presentation night for the sculptures will be held on November 28 with more than $5000 in prizes up for grabs.

To find out more about animals on bikes go to www.animalsonbikes.com.au