Big tick for Christmas program

GEELONG residents have thrown their support behind the city’s Christmas program, amid the council’s ongoing push to be “Australia’s Christmas City”.

The City of Greater Geelong on Friday released the results of a two-month community engagement calling for opinions on its festive program, which includes sound and light shows at the floating Christmas tree, a selfie trail and series of events and activities.

Feedback from almost 200 participants found that more than 90 per cent believed the Christmas program was “very important” or “important” for the region.

And more than 80 per cent of respondents said that the program made them “feel proud” and “welcome and safe”.

The CoGG will use the results of the survey to help plan this year’s Christmas program.

The consultation came after the council voted in 2020 to shelve plans to spend an extra $5m on its program to be “Australia’s Christmas City”, after criticism of the “tone deaf” timing of the proposal early in the Covid-19 pandemic.