City declares: Yule get even more tree - P7

Waterfront Christmas attraction set for 5 more years

GEELONG’S floating Christmas tree will return for another five years, and could get even taller, with the city’s councillors vowing to take the annual attraction to the next level.

Ahead of the season launch of the tree on November 9, the council has agreed to a new budget allocation to ensure it returns to the Geelong water- front until early 2024.

The council has estimated it will cost more than $2.3 million to maintain and display the 25metre tall structure over the next five years.

But several councillors have indicated their support to spend even more money on the attraction, which has been the central feature in Christmas celebrations since 2014.

Council officers will now explore opportunities to refresh the display and add new landbased activities and attractions.

“We now need to make sure we continue to make the tree better, whether that’s making it bigger, whether it’s more inter- activity — whatever it might be,” Cr Ron Nelson said.

“We should think creatively and stay open to all possibilities.”

Cr Trent Sullivan was also enthusiastic about investing further in the colourful tree.

“We should take our tree to the next level. We should make it bigger,” he said.

New locations for the floating landmark will also be scouted, to allow for the forthcoming ferry service from Geelong to Melbourne to berth in Steampacket Quay.

Both Cr Nelson and Cr Eddy Kontelj admitted they had held some doubts about the merits of the project, before it gained a narrow majority vote. However both said it had proven to be a success.

“I must admit I was concerned when the tree was initially proposed in 2014. But since then the investment has been well and truly justified,” Cr Nelson said.

All councillors, bar Windermere’s Anthony Aitken, supported the five-year funding allocation.