Sydney CBD Xmas at Night

[Ipggi]

I wish the council would invest in some decent decorations. Light projections on buildings are nice, but their bland, modernist street decorations are embarrassingly plain and kitsch. So much so they are not even worth photographing.

[GOR@N]

the town hall and the parliament r cool ... rest of the city is *yawn*

[Anberlin]

The lighting is so awesome! Nice photos

[Extare]

That nativity must be from the Cathedral--it's far too Christian for the council.

[Fabian]

And they haven't changed it for years as well.

The light show has improved significantly not to mention how nicely lit the Christmas tree in Martin Place is.

It's good to see the Council putting at least some effort to improve decorations.

[TOCC]

those light shows are awsome, i dont think we have anything like it in Brisbane..

oh wait, the Casino sometimes changes from blue to red in illumination... very fancy

[shaggers_jr]

I didn't even know they were doing this. I'm off to check i out. Th light projections look awesome, but would it hurt them to have a bit of tinsel or something a little bit trad?

[Joseph D]

Originally Posted by shaggers_jr

I didn't even know they were doing this. I'm off to check i out. Th light projections look awesome, but would it hurt them to have a bit of tinsel or something a little bit trad?

Yes, I do believe it would hurt them. Clover Moore is known as a Christmas Grinch.

There was an article about it the other day. I can't find it, but it went along the lines of....Despite record revenue from parking fines etc, the City of Sydney council have not increased their Christmas budget but are instead recycling the same decorations they used for the past few years.

[JayT]

Originally Posted by TOCC

those light shows are awsome, i dont think we have anything like it in Brisbane..

oh wait, the Casino sometimes changes from blue to red in illumination... very fancy

They did it about 8 years ago during the Goodwill Games. QPAC and Suncorp Building were both lit up.

Looks nice though. Great photos.

J

[AtD]

I wonder if the mob behind those projections on to buildings are the same people behind the "Northern Lights" display at the Adelaide Festival of Arts? I know they've done many projects around the place.

[Ipggi]

Originally Posted by Joseph D

Yes, I do believe it would hurt them. Clover Moore is known as a Christmas Grinch.

There was an article about it the other day. I can't find it, but it went along the lines of....Despite record revenue from parking fines etc, the City of Sydney council have not increased their Christmas budget but are instead recycling the same decorations they used for the past few years.

That sounded like a SMH article .. and lol it was so it was easy to find


WHEN Santa drives his sleigh into Martin Place tomorrow to kick off the City of Sydney Christmas celebrations, don't be surprised if the reindeer are looking a bit mangy.

The Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, branded "the Grinch" four years ago for skimping on decorations, has again declined to splurge on the yuletide trimmings after the council cancelled a plan to buy new decorations or refurbish older ones.

This year's Christmas spending comes in at $1.35 million, which is still $365,000 more than was spent in the Grinch episode of 2004 but less than it spends annually on parking meter maintenance.

In July rival companies Chas Clarkson Pty Ltd and Xmas-Mil Display Products Pty Ltd submitted tenders to supply new decorations and restore existing trimmings.

Despite an annual income of $423 million and a budget surplus of $82 million, the council's director of city projects, Michael Leyland, advised that "insufficient funds are allocated in the 2008-09 plant and asset budget for the manufacture and supply of the tendered decorations".

A City of Sydney spokeswoman confirmed that the council refused to increase the Christmas decorations budget, that the two tenders were rejected on cost grounds and that the tender process was abandoned. Existing decorations will instead be recycled.

The existing $1.35 million Christmas budget covers maintaining, installing and dismantling the current Christmas trees and decorations, Newtown Street lighting, Living Colour Floral Displays and Town Hall Projections. However, the budget will be stretched slightly to cover new Christmas decorations on Glebe Point Road and a new Christmas tree in Taylor Square.

"Decorations usually last three to four years, then the city looks at renewing or revitalising them … The last major decoration purchase was in 2005 for decorations and trees, excluding the Martin Place tree [which was upgraded last year]," the spokeswoman said.

"Next year, the city will go to tender for new decorations and trees."

The council will host a concert, featuring fireworks and a tree-lighting ceremony, from 6pm tomorrow in Martin Place. The concert will be screened on a giant TV in Hyde Park and Christmas light projections will be displayed on Town Hall nightly until December 25. Australian-themed street banners will be displayed around the city and energy-saving LED lights strewn through Christmas tree branches.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/environme...491548405.html

[shaggers_jr]

I notice they fail to mention that she was branded The Grinch by the Daily Telegraph...

[Brizer]

And I bet that if spending were increased, both our estimable newspapers, The Carpegraph and the Sinny Moaning Harumph, would go all out about Wasteful Expenditure in Trying Times, etc.

While I think it a pity more effort wasn't made for this year, I have to say that over the past couple of years I've given friends and rels from outside Sydney, interstate and overseas The Grand Chrissy Decoration Tour and they have been knocked out. Even the friend from Boston where the Xmas displays are mindblowing was impressed especially by the difference from the more traditional shows in Boston.

If you want to see the best in traditional Xmas decoration you've got to get to New York and Boston. The first time I saw Boston's Back Bay covered in snow and lit up to the hilt, I damn near wet myself with excitement. It was brilliant.

Rather wonder whether Recent Events will trim the budgets this year.

[Fabian]

The Grinch business goes back to 2004. She is alot more flexible these days, and has learnt from other nations attempts (including traditionally non Christian nations) to mark Christmas.

[Joseph D]

She has also been labeled a scrooge. Not sure who came up with that one.

[Brisbaner21]

I really like these.

[Fabian]

As for Christmas decorations by Sydney City Council, it's not just the CBD, but the inner city as well. Two of the Chimney Stacks at St Peters are covered in decorations as well.