By NOEL MURPHY
CORIO BAY is set to be decked with boughs of Yuletide cheer after Geelong’s council approved a $1 million Christmas tree on the casting vote of Mayor Darryn Lyons.
Council expects the 25-metre tree to generate an extra $18 million in tourist spending over the festive season and media coverage worth $20 million for the city.
The tree’s builder will be Melbourne’s Creative Production Services, which has completed jobs such as a giant King Kong hand outside Eureka Skydeck, Crown Christmas Spectacular and Melbourne Arts Centre’s Deck the Houses installation.
The tree’s design remains under wraps but Cr Lyons said discussions about the project had already generated significant interest.
“Once the project is in place we can expect Geelong will be well and truly on the map this Christmas,” he said.
“The tree measures 25 metres from water level and has been custom-designed to attract interest both at night and during the day.
“At night the tree will feature a light show that will incorporate both internal and external lighting elements. The light show will be reflected in the water.
“The iconic Christmas tree will add fun and glamour to our city but at the same time it is a part of very deliberate strategy to support our local tourism and retail sectors.”
Figures from Tourism Greater Geelong and Bellarine indicate the iconic Christmas tree could deliver an additional $18 million in tourism expenditure over the Christmas season.
“Based on a conservative estimate of a 10 per cent increase in tourism visits, we could expect an additional 44,993 visitors to the region equating to $18 million in tourism expenditure,” Cr Lyons said.
“Independent analysis of the likely media coverage of Geelong’s 2014 Christmas program has found the national and international coverage would equate to $20 million worth of coverage.”
Cr Andy Richards, who voted against the tree, described the project as a “fiasco”.
“The project has no business plan, no permits, no report on where it can be seen from and does not even have a site,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the project is going ahead as the vote was 6-6, with mayor Darryn Lyons using his casting vote to get the project up.”
