Cash cuts decorations

By Ed Merrison
BELGRAVE traders have blamed the spirit of the dollar for leaving the town bare of Christmas decorations.
Members of the Belgrave Traders Association (BTA) blame obstacles put in their way by power companies for the fact festive banners are gathering dust in a shed rather than bringing cheer to locals.
BTA vice president Jane Thomas said past committees had been quoted about $6000 for erecting banners on power poles.
This year’s committee voted against going through the process because of the possible cost and because they did not receive the application form they requested from TRUenergy.
In fact it is SP AusNet, owner of the state’s electricity transmission network, which is responsible for handling applications to put up banners on its poles.
Company policy dictates groups wishing to use its facilities must have an application approved before paying SP AusNet or an accredited contractor to carry out the work.
But Ms Thomas, who said locals had been asking why there were no decorations in Belgrave, did not agree with the policy.
“Banners and tinsel are things most people are used to from their childhood,” she said.
“Locals don’t understand why we don’t put anything up and think it’s because we can’t be bothered or we don’t want to. In fact we’d really like to.”
Ms Thomas wondered whether there was any financial support the council could give, but reserved her ire for the power company.
“We’re very disappointed, obviously, that the spirit of Christmas has turned into the spirit of the dollar with these companies,” she said.
“Given they make a lot of money out of customers, it’s disappointing they can’t put something back into the community for free as a goodwill gesture.”
Emma Daniell-Edwards, public relations and media advisor for SP AusNet, could not explain why the cost could not be reduced or waived, but said the process remained unchanged from previous years.
“As safety is a priority for SP AusNet, it’s important that only qualified people be used to work on or around electricity assets,” she said. Shire of Yarra Ranges community relations manager James Martin said the company’s policy was reasonable.
“From the outside it looks like its fairly onerous but we understand there are some safety requirements involved when putting things high up in the air around high-voltage power lines,” he said.
Mr Martin said the decision of whether to put up decorations lay with the traders and the council did not have the resources to help out.
Ms Daniell-Edwards was unable to confirm whether other councils did fulfil this role, but Ms Thomas wanted to see it happen in the future.
“It would be great to see a shire-wide, coordinated effort,” Ms Thomas said.