Residents of Slag Street in Broken Hill, New South Wales, are frustrated by the repeated theft of their street sign. Sid Siddall, a resident for 50 years, expressed his dismay over the ongoing issue. "Just leave the sign alone, it was a good sign," he said.

Slag Street, like many others in Broken Hill, is named after the city’s mining heritage, specifically referring to the waste produced from melting iron ore. However, it is the only street in the area that consistently loses its sign. The Broken Hill City Council noted that replacement signs typically last about a month before they are stolen again.

Siddall, who lives with Parkinson's disease and drop foot, is particularly concerned about the implications of the missing sign for emergency services. He fears that delays could occur if they cannot locate his street.

Siddall and his wife, Janet, moved to Slag Street in the 1970s, finding it a suitable place to raise their family. The street is home to just three houses, fostering a close-knit community. Siddall takes pride in the unique name, which reflects the city’s mining history. In 2013, there were discussions about potentially renaming streets deemed offensive, but residents, including Siddall, successfully advocated for Slag Street to keep its name. "I thought it was a good name, because all the streets in Broken Hill are named after minerals and I think it's unique," he said.

The theft of the sign has raised health concerns for Siddall. He has witnessed thieves stealing the sign while he was at home. "They came up to the signpost in a four-wheel drive and stood on the roo bar at the front and undid the nuts and took the sign," he recalled.

Siddall's health issues have made him more vulnerable to falls. He recounted a previous incident three years ago when he broke his arm in his front garden. His wife called for an ambulance, but he believes they may have had difficulty finding their home due to the missing sign. "It takes them five minutes or more to find my house and, in that time, you can die," he said.

A spokesperson for NSW Ambulance stated that the absence of the street sign has minimal impact on travel time, as Slag Street is included in their GPS system.

The Broken Hill City Council has faced ongoing costs related to replacing the sign. Mayor Tom Kennedy expressed interest in finding solutions to prevent future thefts. "There needs to be a way to secure the signs, so they don't get taken every couple of months," he said. He also suggested that the visitor information center could sell replicas of the signs to deter theft. "Perhaps instead of stealing them you could go in [and buy them]," he added.

As the community continues to grapple with the issue, residents hope for a resolution that will allow them to keep their street sign intact.