Love it or hate it – Christmas ‘tis the season to be jolly, and what better way to celebrate than to deck the halls, walls - and main streets.
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However Griffith’s CBD isn’t shining or glistening with tinsel or lights this year.
Instead, someone walking down Banna Avenue could be forgiven for thinking it looks like any other time of year, according to some Griffith residents and visitors.
The issue was brought to the fore at Griffith City Council’s last general meeting, where councillor Dino Zappacosta detailed the numerous complaints he had received over the lack of Christmas decorations.
And while Cr Zappacosta heard a handful of complaints, the level of betrayal felt by the Griffith people was on full display after former resident Brad George expressed his disappointment on social media, shown below:
With over 356 reactions and 196 shares, people agreed with him.
“It sort of drags the spirit back a little bit,” Mr George said.
“You go into the CBD to spend money, and all you can see are a couple of token Christmas trees, hardly any traders have displays – there wasn’t even any of those crappy cut-out Santas.
Mayor John Dal Broi copped the criticism on the chin, and agreed this year they “hadn’t come up to standard.”
“We have had some Christmas decorations stolen from our Christmas tree, and also some of the flags, the banner’s we’ve put up, but it’s not an excuse - we should have been onto it earlier,” Cr Dal Broi said.
With 2MIA FM bringing the sounds of Christmas to ears through the speakers and the Christmas tree up in Memorial Park, not all has been left forgotten.
“Unfortunately this year has gone too late to do anything more at this stage...The Christmas tree is lit up, but we need more lighting and festoons.”
He says if the foreshadowed a Notice of Motion for council to form a Christmas Festive Working Group to create a plan for future Christmas spirit, everyone would need to be one board.
We haven't completely ignored Christmas, but we could've done more.
- Mayor John Dal Broi
Mr George said perhaps the introduction of a best-display competition would encourage businesses to participate.
Cr Dal Broi agreed, saying the whole decorating oush should be a team effort.
“We also need the business people to come on board, encouraged by the Chamber – we can’t be carrying the weight all the time,” Cr Dal Broi said.
“We would be responsible for the heavy lifting with lifting and creating that atmosphere, but I think it should be a whole business, community, council effort.
Cr Dal Broi said despite the absentee street spirit, the Festival of Lights was continuing to grow.
“It is doing fantastically well thanks to staff and Griffith bus lines - the buses are being booked out,” Cr Dal Broi said.
“We haven't completely ignored Christmas, but we could've done more.”
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