GEELONG’S $500,000 Rio-style, Corio Bay Christmas tree has received a mixed response from punters on line.
Mayor Darryn Lyons’ Facebook account has been bombarded with congratulatory messages but detractors are also proving peeved about the expenditure and cynical about its marketing value.
“This is about supporting tourism and traders in Central Geelong,” Cr Lyons said.
“It has been proven world-wide that good Christmas decorations attract people into the CBD to celebrate and shop. This is what I want for Geelong so people stop going to Melbourne to do this.
“If we have a world class attraction people from Melbourne will come to Geelong to see our decorations.”
Not everyone, however, agreed.
“Spending half a million dollars on a material pleasure like a tree is hard for me to understand when there are so many people in our own town that go cold, hungry and are homeless. Half a million dollars would house a lot of people,” said Nanna Lee.
“The homeless will feel all warm and fuzzy looking out over the bay on Christmas Eve when they see that half million dollar tree bobbing around,” said Dylan Brown.
“They have floating Chrismas trees in Brockway, Ogdenville and North Haverbrook, and by gum it put them on the map,” said Matt Briody.
“Wow, half a million dollars. How many Alcoa, Ford and Avalon workers could have had some form of employment with that sort of money? If the Geelong economy was stable it would have been a great idea but it’s not and the money could have been better used,” said Donna Shell.
But the critics had their critics, too.
“I don’t see how handing it out to the needy will make any real difference to anything except the immediate nature of a few people’s lives,” said Bree Lucas.
“How will it improve their situation in the long term? How will it prevent more people from falling into that situation?”
Craig Bos Wooton said the negativity of some people astounded him.
“Lighten up! Beware Mr Mayor, the glass-half-empty gang is gunning for you! Onward and upward, giddy up!” he enthused.”
“Great work DL. Proud of ya. You are not afraid to stick your neck out,” said Jennifer Edwick.
