Alexandra’s clock not only tells the time – it now also reflects the wheelie bin collection for the week.

Alexandra Lions president Barry McCall said the Lions were responsible for maintaining the iconic clock on the hill.

Now there was a new role for the clock, informing residents of the wheelie bin collection each week, they were changing the colour of the lights.

“It’s a novel use of the clock’s ability to change colours, particularly when we are moving from all red bin collection back to recycling.”

Barry said Lions had taken on responsibility for maintaining the clock on the hill, something that unfortunately needed to be completed all too regularly due to vandalism.

“Time stood still during lockdown because somebody swung on the arm and damaged the mechanism.

“We couldn’t send anyone up to fix it until the alert levels lifted.”

Barry said the clock had had lighting upgrades over the years, and coloured LED lighting had been installed.

Now that lighting would not just illuminate the time at night, but would serve a second purpose of reminding residents which wheelie bin collection it was each week.

The colour change was operated remotely by Lions members.

“People can watch as the colour changes to red this weekend, and then to yellow the following week,” Barry said.

“We’ll do two cycles, and then see if it’s still needed.

“it’s a great way to let people know recycling is back in vogue.”