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A young person from the Land Down Under has appeared in court after allegedly defacing a large blue sculpture of a mythical creature by applying plastic eyes to it.

The 19-year-old, 19 years old, participated remotely at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in South Australia on that day, charged with one count of damaging property.

In a statement at the moment of the September incident, the municipal authorities explained that CCTV footage captured a individual putting artificial eyes on the artwork, which residents have dubbed the “Cast in Blue”.

The accused did not enter a plea and informed the court she was ill, according to media sources, with the magistrate recommending her to secure a lawyer before her upcoming hearing in the final month of the year.

A day after the alleged incident, the city leader stated that repairs to the much-loved community sculpture would be costly as the adhesive eyes were impossible to be detached without damaging the art piece.

“This wilful damage to a valued community art is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in September. “It is not harmless fun, it is pricey - it is also frustrating to those members of our community who have welcomed the Blue Blob.”

She added the council would seek the “substantial” repair costs from those responsible for the damage.

When the artwork was first proposed, it drew varied responses from the area residents due to its price tag and appearance.

Priced at 136,000 Australian dollars ($89,000; £68,000), the artwork depicts a mythical megafauna, with the creators influenced by an prehistoric marsupial ant-eater discovered in local caves that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.