Lights out in Hinterland
Christmas a fizzer in west as funds flow to Strip
THE Glitter Strip is getting most of the council’s Christmas lights while Hinterland suburbs are being left in the dark.
A council report reveals the city’s Christmas lights budget for 2018-19 is about $472,000, with almost all of it going to the tourist strip from Main Beach to Currumbin.
Councillors will provide $210,000 from their divisional budgets to light up the Hinterland suburbs.
The report found some of the lights are ageing and need replacing, and there is deep division among councillors about new installations including lifeguard towers and an arts precinct tree.
Veteran Southport councillor Dawn Crichlow yesterday said many councillors were upset about the city’s 25 lifeguard towers, from Main Beach to Rainbow Bay, being dressed up with decorations.
The council report notes “some difficulties were encountered in the harsh coastal environment” and officers will investigate the use of solar power. Cr Crichlow believes the focus should be back on putting up lights along streets.
“The chamber of commerce used to do street lighting,” she said. “I’d like to see what funding they could get to do that. Christmas is about lights, lights, and more lights.”
Hinterland councillors are having to fight for funding, questioning how up to $100,000 is being spent on lighting up a tree at HOTA which got mixed reviews.
Councillor Peter Young said some banners were installed in Pacific Pines along Hotham Drive and at Bischoff Park in Nerang, but most of the whole-of-city-funded installations were along the coastal strip.
“I received numerous approaches from residents disappointed with the lack of Christmas decorations,” he said.
“It was my understanding there would be a focus on ‘spreading the cheer’ to areas west of the coastal strip in 2019. I would certainly want to see some decent investment in at least a couple of prominent items together with improved lighting in a few locations. Several years ago a pine tree at Pitcairn Way-Easter Crescent was lit and the result was excellent. However, in year two (of this program) the lighting had diminished a great deal and in year three after further fiddling about it was nothing less than an embarrassment.
“I think we should focus less on features that have a high installation-removal cost like banners and install prominent Christmas features.”
Mudgeeraba-based councillor Glenn Tozer advocated for whole-of-city funds to be spent on lighting at Firth Park at the entrance to the Springbrook National Park and near the William Duncan School at Nerang.
“I think the western division suburbs at least deserve some attention given the comprehensive treatment of the coastline,” he said.
“It’s an important celebration of community there. I didn’t want them taken down.”
Officers in their report said the feedback from residents was “predominantly positive” but there was a general interest in increasing the number and spread of installations.