By NOEL MURPHY
The lighting of Geelong’s controversial floating Christmad tree has been greeted with rapturous applause.
Mayor Darryn Lyons arrived on a brightly-lit tugboat with Santa Claus and a Dixieland jazz band before pressing the flesh with the 15,000-strong crowd, high-fiving youngsters and posing for photos and selfies.
He lit the 27-metre steel and aluminium tree after a countdown from his podium beside the waterfront carousel.
The tree drew a widespread excited response with media coverage across the country and overseas.
Nearby traders have reported enhanced businesses since last Friday’s lighting.
“Honestly, I’d gauge the numbers at up to 30,000 and I’ve seen some big events on the waterfront’” said Panache restaurant’s Mark Oates.
“It was like New Year’s eve, it was awesome. People were walking around with their chests puffed out saying, ’How good are we?’.
“The waterfront looks great and the mayor, love him or hate him, is doing his job incredibly well. Pat him on the back, the place looked like Monte Carlo.
“He’s doing exactly what a mayor should do, drum up business and stay out of politics. I don’t who else could drum up the sort of media exposure he’s brought Geerlong – and on the world stage.”
