THE sad saga of the neglected, badly damaged, heritage-listed, Starlight drive-in sign continues with an application for emergency funding going unlodged.

The 55-year-old, neon drive-in sign has been awaiting repair in a Fyshwick depot for over four months, after tipping from its rusted plinth in Watson and crashing through an adjacent fence late last year.

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher stepped in and ordered that the sign be taken to a Government depot for safety immediately after “CityNews” reported its fall in early October.

And there it sits, unprotected from the elements, in the open air, a sad figure of its former self.

A representative of the department of Environment and Sustainable Development says the repair of the sign is the responsibility of its owner, the Starlight Apartments complex.

“ACT Heritage have invited the owners of the sign to submit an application for emergency funding and have liaised with the owners about the scope of repair work that can be included in emergency funding,” the spokesperson says.

“CityNews” was unable to reach the owners of the sign, but the Department of Environment and Sustainable Development confirmed ACT Heritage has not yet received an application for emergency funding from the owners.

An inspection by a “CityNews” reporting team at the time of the sign’s collapse revealed that one side of the sign appeared to be completely missing and the underside had been impaled by a signpost it fell on to.

After four months on the depot ground, growing rust can join its list of ailments.