Shire will not put up Christmas decorations this year

THE Surf Coast Shire has confirmed it will not be putting up Christmas decorations anywhere in the municipality this year, nearly three months after a majority of councillors rejected a proposal to do so.

Cr Adrian Schonfelder was the lone vote in favour of his notice of motion at the September 28 meeting to immediately establish and implement a Shire Christmas Decorations plan that allows for lighting decorations to be placed at two entrances in each of the towns of Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Deans Marsh, Jan Juc, Lorne, Moriac, Torquay and Winchelsea.

The plan would also install lights in a tree in a well-situated location in Anglesea, Lorne, Torquay and Winchelsea.

Of the nine councillors, eight voted against the notice of motion.

After the meeting, Cr Schonfelder wrote a Letter to the Editor of this paper explaining his motion, saying it came about following the vandalisation of Christmas decorations in Winchelsea put up last year by volunteers.

“This was terrible especially given the situation with COVID-19 and the attempt to lift people’s spirits,” Cr Schonfelder wrote.

“I was contacted by members of the community about the council placing decorations which could not be vandalised in the form of lighting in a tree and on light poles.”

He said it was sad no other councillor supported his motion and that Surf Coast Shire was “possibly the only council that doesn’t fund Christmas decorations”.

“I congratulate Colac Otway Shire for recently agreeing to spend $45,000 on a Christmas tree for Colac’s Memorial Park.”

This week, Surf Coast general manager of culture and community Chris Pike said the shire’s stance had not changed since the September 28 meeting.

“Council appreciates sentiment around public Christmas decorations and that the season is a special time for many people. We love seeing people decorate their private properties and businesses. We also respect the views of people who don’t celebrate Christmas.

“At present we don’t have a Christmas decorations plan.

“Council considered the topic at its 28 September 2021 meeting in response to a notice of motion proposing a shire Christmas decorations plan including lighting of prominent trees in Lorne, Anglesea, Torquay and Winchelsea.

“Council voted against the proposal with councillors citing factors including current and future financial constraints and priorities. There was also concern that community engagement had not been undertaken to understand people’s feelings on significant new spending on decorations.”

The Christmastime In Torquay organising committee was considering redirecting a grant it had received from the shire towards permanently installing solar-powered lights ahead of December in at least one of the Norfolk Island pines on Bell Street, but ultimately decided not to do so.

Mr Pike said the council’s lack of support for the notice of motion on September 28 was not related to the Bell Street lights proposal.

“Historically where we’ve been approached by resident or trader groups via grant programs, we have supported requests so they can hold celebrations or install decorations.

“Council made $1,000 available to Christmastime In Torquay through our Events Grants Program, but Christmastime In Torquay elected against receiving the allocation due to challenges with implementing the event.”