+ MELBOURNE’S BEST PROPERTy guide www.macedonrangesweekly.com.au \ december 17, 2013
News Feature
we’re ‘grinched’
Future cricket stars in Sunbury get vital tips from greats of the game as part of a fund-raiser for MS sufferers ■ page 8
inside Showtime again Kyneton’s historic Bluestone Theatre will open again as the state government adds to a restoration fund ■ page 3 get on with the job Councillor calls on Local Government Minister to fast-track Sunbury’s secession from Hume ■ page 4 Sport Mixed emotions in Sunbury as Ashfield brings home the GDCA district division Twenty20 trophy, but Sunbury falls to the Bulls ■ page 30
Christmas jeer: Sarah Pollock and daughters Olivia and Lilly are disheartened by the council’s lack of festive spirit. (paul rovere)
Macedon Ranges council has come under fire over the lack of Christmas decorations in the municipality. In 2010, the council distributed $28,000 to business associations for street decorations, but no money has been given since. Cr Russell Mowatt said some organisations that received the funding in 2010 were now defunct. “It’s disappointing that there is no trail of the money given then,” he said. “The community is saying there’s a need for more Christmas decorations. We need to be able to manage this expectation within the budget.” Cr Sally Piper said it was the second year in a row residents had complained about the lack of decorations. “People want to tinsel-bomb Gisborne,” she said. “Yes, there are a few flags and a bit of tinsel on a few poles, but people are asking, where is the Christmas spirit?” Neighbouring Melton council spent $15,000 this year on decorations. Ian Boyd, of Gisborne Region Events Activities and Tourism, said that if people wanted to see more decorations in the town, they could “come to us and talk about it”. Woodend Business and Tourism Association president Karen Shaw said that since her group’s reformation two years ago there had been no offering of money. The organisation received $500 from Woodend Rotary this year for new coloured flags, which were on display only as part of the Woodend Christmas Festival. Council planning and environment director Sophie Segafredo said the council considered allocating funding to Christmas decorations in its budget, but due to competing priorities the proposal was not supported. Gisborne resident Sarah Pollock said the lack of Christmas decorations across the shire was a huge disappointment. “It’s Christmas time and it is disheartening to see no decorations around town,” she said. \ ANGELA VALENTE
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