$26,500 for festive cheer

FILE

Rotorua Lakes Council will spend an estimated $26,500 to bring some festive spirit to the central city in the form of a new Christmas tree and decorations.

But the cost is a lot less than some councils around the country.

The council's Inner City Revitalisation strategy lead adviser, Portia McKenzie, said the council had to buy a new tree after engineers ruled out using the old one that was damaged after falling down in a gust of wind last year.

The new tree, estimated to cost $20,000, will be put up on Monday at the site of the old City Focus.

"We thought last year's tree could be recovered but after the gust of wind and the strengthening of the base, two engineers have inspected the tree and considered it unsafe to put up again this year or to recover what was there," Mrs McKenzie said.

"We also needed to consider a different design to ensure it is safely secured to the ground. The lights and decorations have been saved from the old tree to use again this year. A Christmas tree in the CBD remains an important part of Rotorua's feel and image.

"The new one is designed to last 15-plus years. The design has also sought to reduce install and decoration time. It is estimated to cost $20,000 and is being designed and built locally.

"The Light Rotorua Campaign group has considered it to be an important icon for the city."

She said Christmas decorations would also be put up around the city, with some already up on Fenton, Tutanekai and Arawa streets.

"About eight months ago we bought some Christmas flags at a reduced rate for $6500. They will last six years.

"The previous Christmas decorations came to the end of their life. Last year there was some criticism about the lack of Christmas decorations in the inner city so hence this year the flags," she said.

However, the cost for Rotorua's tree and decorations are a far cry from the cost of a Christmas tree erected in Blenheim recently by the Marlborough District Council which cost $54,070 and was imported from China.

And the Invercargill City Council sent four staff members to the city's Chinese sister city of Suqian in September to buy new Christmas lights. The trip cost ratepayers $21,000.

The council said it had also spent between $20,000 and $30,000 for a new tree and lights imported from Suqian.