IT’S the goliath battle that has divided the city. Should a 4m-high copy of Michelangelo’s David stay in the front yard of a house in Melbourne’s west?

The towering concrete statue appeared in the front yard of a Caroline Springs house a few weeks ago and neighbours want it gone.

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And many readers, including Claire, agree.

“The problem is it looks nothing like the original,” Claire said.

“Michelangelo’s David is a masterpiece. This looks more like an overly thighed and six packed Olympian.”

Many readers, including another named Claire, said the statue made her smile.

“Strangely I quite like it! Good for them and why is the neighbour who hates it so worried about vandals?”

Melton Council has said the statue is allowed to stay.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she could not avoid seeing the statue from the knees up from anywhere in her house including the bedrooms of her children and entertainment areas.

“It’s conflicting. I can see the beauty of the art, but the statue, especially its size, is not appropriate for a residential area.

“It should be in a backyard where the owners can enjoy it, but not in the front yard.”

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She said she was also concerned it would make the street a target for vandals.

“It’s already getting a lot of attention. Traffic is banking up the street with drivers stopping to take photos.”

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, branded the statue “vulgar” and said “it has ruined the street.”

The woman said the statue was offensive and not appropriate for a residential area.

“The first thing people see when you come into our street now is that, it’s crazy and does not make the area look good.”

Her sentiments were echoed by another neighbour, who said the statue was an “eyesore”.

He said he didn’t have a problem with the statue itself, but its size was his concern.

“It’s way too big and does not match with the neighbourhood character.”

He said if it was smaller he wouldn’t have an issue.

media_camera The marble statue of Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia Gallery in Florence.

“It is art and I can appreciate that, but something this big, there is a better place for that and it’s not here, it looks tacky,” he said.

Others said the statue could devalue their properties, concerned that no one would want to see it from their house.

Melton Council Compliance Manager Ian Stewart said no planning or building permit was required for the statue.

He said there were “no specific guidelines or restrictions in place in regards to statues located in private residential front yards”.

Mr Stewart said the council had received two complaints

The statue owners were approached by Melton Leader for comment but have not responded to requests.