Knox Council is weighing up five options for a $50,000 Christmas decorations pilot program, which could see festive bin wraps, red bows on trees, and a window decorating competition rolled out across selected shopping centres.
The options have been developed in response to Cr Williams’ Notice of Motion No.177, aimed at boosting civic pride and supporting local traders. Council officers have scoped costs and logistics for a one-off pilot covering up to 21 activity centres across the municipality.
The most comprehensive option would see 432 large red bows installed on trees in retail precincts including Rowville, The Basin and Wantirna Mall, along with a shopfront decorating initiative through the Experience Knox platform. Businesses would be invited to decorate their windows for public voting and prizes.
Cr Williams also proposed waiving permit fees for traders who want to display their own Christmas trees on footpaths. However, officers have warned that processing each permit would require 1–2 hours of staff time and additional inspections, potentially delaying other services.
The report warns that the current $50,000 budget would only fund a modest rollout, and an expanded program across all major centres would require more than double the investment.
While red bows can be reused, installation costs and potential vandalism remain concerns. Officers say final decisions must be made by 1 October to meet supplier deadlines for this year’s season.
Council is expected to consider whether to allocate the $50,000 in the 2025/26 Budget and, if successful, revisit funding again for a long-term program in 2026/27.
