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Thursday, 30 November, 2017
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Janet Watts wants to see council erect simple decorations such as this one in Warragul, along Pakenham's main shopping strip.
The Pakenham CBD - without Christmas decorations. 165994
This is Grinch-mas By Bonny Burrows Cardinia Shire Council has been branded a “Grinch” after deciding not to display Christmas decorations in Pakenham’s CBD. This year will mark the second year in a row the council has not decorated the town in celebration of the festive season. Local resident Janet Watts says the “antiChristmas” behaviour has left her feeling a whole lot less jolly. “Walking down Pakenham last year, it did not feel like Christmas at all. It felt empty,” the Pakenham resident of 10 years said. “Again after not seeing any decorations this year, I thought enough is enough. That is why this story does need to told.”
Ms Watts approached the shire last year to question the lack of tinsel, only to be given “unacceptable” excuses - that there was no sub-committee to make this happen and that AusNet Services would charge $200 per pole for decorations. “I was told this then would have be on charge to ratepayers,” Ms Watts said. “Is this part of our rates? If they up the rates by a $1 to cover this, I am sure the ratepayers would be okay with this as the council should be giving something back to the community.” While not expecting the “council to go crazy,” Ms Watts said the shire should take cues from Baw Baw and Casey councils, which decorate the Warragul and Berwick townships each year with re-used decorations.
“It doesn’t have to be over the top, they just need to acknowledge it,” Ms Watts said. “Take a look at Warragul. (What they do) is pretty damn simple; they have old decorations they break out every year. It doesn’t need to be a big expense.” Ms Watts believes the simply measures would go a long way in spreading Christmas cheer. “I think it’s good for the community. It makes us feel happy, and Christmas is a time to celebrate the holidays,” Ms Watts said. Cardinia Shire Council general manager of planning and development Andrew Paxton said in previous years decorations along Main Street were co-ordinated by local retailers.
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He said the council was willing to support and work with any business group that would like to decorate its retail precinct for the festive season. “(However,) as there is a large number of shopping precincts across Cardinia Shire, it would not be equitable to fund the decoration of only one of these precincts,” Mr Paxton said. The general manager said it wasn’t uncommon in other municipalities for traders to pay a levy to cover the cost of decorating their retail precinct. “However, Cardinia Shire Council does not have such an arrangement nor budget,” Mr Paxton said.
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Thursday, 30 November, 2017
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