Lighter side to Christmas

WHILE one Gold Coast apartment appears to be under the control of the Grinch, another is showing just what the Christmas spirit can be all about.

A day after the Bulletin reported a Broadbeach tower had ordered families to take down decorations on their balconies or face “further action”, residents at Trilogy Surfers Paradise have created an internal Christmas lights competition to see who can put on the best sparkling show.

They have put up a notice in the lobby and created a Facebook group to get to know each other during the festive season – and the body corporate is not just supporting it, it is part of it.

“There are no problems with the body corporate – members actually live in the apartments and get involved themselves,” on-site manager Kirsty Carrington said.

“A lot of our residents, owners and tenants, have put Christmas lights up and have created a page together.”

Ms Carrington said not only did the lights look pretty, the idea brought tenants together and made visitors feel at home.

“We have a few of the owners and tenants who live on their own so this is a nice way to get together,” she said.

“It’s a really nice feeling for the guests staying here ... It’s nice for them to have that Christmas feel even if they’re away from home.”

Trilogy’s festive spirit is in stark contrast to The Phoenician at Broadbeach, where the body corporate, Strata Sphere, hs demanded residents take down their lights.

Residents including Nigel McDowall received a letter last week telling them they were in clear breach of the body corporate laws and to remove the decorations “immediately”.

Strata Sphere cited a bylaw where any hanging “washing, towel, bedding or clothing” affects the “appearance of the building”.

Bulletin readers came out in support of Mr McDowall and other residents at The Phoenician and urged them to put up the decorations anyway.