Crickey Melbourne! Do we buy it?

IT'S A BIG ONE: Sculptor Mitch Mitchell with the statue of Steve Irwin.

MOONEE Valley Mayor Paul Guiliano is not convinced a 2.7m bronze statue of Steve Irwin is what his city needs.

And he thinks it could belong in the Melbourne Zoo.

The council is yet to decide whether to buy the $75,000 statue of the Essendon-born conservation icon.

Cr Guiliano said the council would not buy the statue without consulting the community first.

As reported by the Leader last week, Richmond sculptor Mitch Mitchell is working on a clay model of Irwin in khaki shorts and shirt holding a crocodile.

If the council agrees to buy the statue, Mitchell will cast it in bronze.

Mitchell said a statue of Irwin in the place where he was born would be a fitting tribute.

But Cr Giuliano said he was not convinced the statue was appropriate for the area, adding: "He's an Australian icon, not a Moonee Valley icon.

He said deciding to buy the statue would not be "an overnight decision" for the council.

"I'm debating whether to contact Melbourne Zoo to see if they'd take it. I don't think it's appropriate," Cr Guiliano said.

Mitchell said he could only wait for a decision on his sculpture.

"It would be nice if they were interested to come down and see it face to face," Mitchell said.

A spokeswoman for Melbourne Zoo said: "Any request that comes from anybody is considered.

"At present, all statues (in the zoo) are of animals."

Irwin attended Essendon Primary School from 1968-72.

He was killed in 2006 when a stingray barb pierced his heart.

Queensland's Australia Zoo, established by the Irwin family, did not respond to the Leader's questions before deadline.

Is Moonee Valley the right place for a sculpture of Steve Irwin? Or should it be placed in the Melbourne Zoo? Tell us in a letter or email melbourne@leader newspapers.com.au