Christmas is definitely coming

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, as Bass Coast Shire Council rolls out Christmas decorations.

Red bows on the trees along Thompson Avenue are just the start, with Christmas baubles and lights due to be installed once the schoolies period is over.

Lights will be placed in five of the cypress trees on Thompson Avenue, between Chapel Street and The Esplanade.

From December 14, bauble decorations will be installed on roundabouts and at the bottom of Thompson Avenue.

In San Remo, Christmas flags have been put up, with red bows on the trees. The existing lights on the pine tree will be reprogrammed for a Christmas touch.

A council report in December 2018 outlined a program of funding new decorations for key centres across four financial years.

“This year, there were two years’ worth of allocated funding ($89,000) in the budget, which was used to purchase and install decorations for Inverloch and Cowes,” a council spokesperson said.

“Some funding from cancelled events was reallocated to the decorations program, in order to partially decorate Wonthaggi as well. Wonthaggi will get the rest of its decorations next year.”

San Remo is due to receive more funding for decorations in the 2022/23 budget.

The council spokesperson said different types of decorations were purchased for each centre.

Outdoor areas

Work will also start next week to create new outdoor dining areas in Cowes.

Covid safe circles will appear on the foreshore, along with extra seating.

In Thompson Avenue, businesses creating parklets will receive specially designed barriers for the additional outdoor dining areas.

An outdoor eating area is being created in the laneway next to the G’day Tiger café and Olive Justice Place will be transformed into an area that can seat up to 165 diners.

Local events company, Over the Top Events will be transforming the spaces using timber flooring, festoon lighting, artificial grass and picnic style tables.

The work is funded through a $250,000 grant from the state government.