Colac Otway counting down to Christmas

Published on 01 November 2019

Colac Otway counting down to Christmas

Christmas planning is well underway, with a combined local effort from schools, artists, businesses and Colac Otway Shire.

Banners displaying local artwork will hang in Colac’s main street and timber Christmas trees decorated by local school children will stand in Memorial Square, using materials donated by local businesses.

Apollo Bay’s much-loved Norfolk Pine on the foreshore will light up, thanks to a joint funding effort between Colac Otway Shire and the community, while golden reindeers will fly high again in the town centre.

Colac Otway Mayor Cr Jason Schram said he was looking forward to seeing Colac’s and Apollo Bay’s festive flair this year, which would encourage people to do their Christmas shopping, provide a boost to local businesses and spread Christmas cheer.

“It’s really exciting that Council and the community are working together on some great Christmas projects this year and I’m sure local residents will appreciate the effort that’s going into designing and creating our Christmas decorations,” Cr Schram said.

“Council has been working with the Colac Makers Space to submit artwork for the banners which will hang in Murray Street. Otways artist Sue Tate was been selected to prepare four pieces of artwork following the theme, Festive Flora and Fauna.

“We will reveal Sue’s Festive Flora and Fauna artworks closer to the end of November when the decorations will go up in Colac and Apollo Bay.

“There will be 10 banners in Colac, with Council allocating $40,000 from this year’s budget towards Christmas decorations, including the purchase of 10 tracking systems which will secure the two-metre high banners from Council-owned poles.

“The banner tracking systems will allow us to fly different banners during the year to promote or commemorate other special events.

“Local businesses have generously donated to the Christmas effort this year, with our local timber processor AKD donating timber panels, for six Christmas trees, the Colac Men’s Shed making the timber tree stands, and Adam Harris Concreting donating weights for the tree bases.

“Thirteen district schools will be involved in decorating the colourful Christmas trees which will be placed in Memorial Square, showcasing our young artists’ talents and bringing Christmas to Colac in a creative way.

“Festive plans for Apollo Bay this year will include lighting up the Norfolk Pine, with Council and the community jointly funding the lights,” he said.

“The Apollo Bay community is organising an event to celebrate turning on the lights, which Council has contributed $10,000 towards, and we are looking forward to the community’s golden reindeers making the shopping centre look great again this year. 

“Colac Otway is excited to be bringing a burst of Christmas spirit to our two major shopping centres and we hope our retailers will benefit with these reminders of the upcoming festive season, with decorations up by the end of November.”