City gets a festive touch

PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER

Eight days out from the big day and the city should today have its Christmas tree.

Last night the 4m base was installed and the aluminium frame (complete with star) erected. At the time the Rotorua Daily Post went to print the greenery was being prepared. It is expected the 10m high tree will be completed by today, in time for Santa's visit to tonight's night market.

Resident Graham Watson said it was marvellous the tree was going up.

"Being in the centre brings the town alive and into the spirit of Christmas."

Scheduled cobbling and preparation of the City Focus area was behind the delay. The City Focus has been a demolition site since last month with the removal of the fibreglass sails, building and apricot pillars.

Rotorua Lakes Council public relations manager Mary Anne Gill said the site needed to be prepared before the tree could go up.

"Cobbling the area is part of the need to fill the gap the building left after it was removed and cobblestones was the most cost-effective solution after considering options of gardens or turf."

The cobbles would remain in place until construction works begin after Easter and the cobbles would be reused as part of the new construction works, she said.

About $20,000 was spent this year on the new Christmas tree and a further $6500 on decorations. The new tree was a replacement for the old one which was damaged in a gust of wind last year and considered unsafe. It is designed to last more than 15 years.

City Christmas tree

* Designed by Thermalpro and fabricated by Specialist Welding Services in Rotorua.

* Made of light aluminium alloy and interlocked and welded together.

* 10m to the top of the star - 4m diameter base - weighs 1100kg without decorations.

* Multiple pieces allow for ease of assembly and disassembly.