A council was heavily criticized after organizers had to cancel a Christmas lights show due to too much red tape.
Michael Eather announced on Sunday that the exhibition at 63 Grange Road in Sandringham, in Melbourne’s south-east, would not go ahead in December.
It is the first time the 40,000 lights have not been turned on in five years since Mr Eather started the tradition to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Organizers claimed on Facebook that they had failed to obtain a permit and traffic management approval from Bayside City Council.
“Despite our best efforts, the council has been unable or unwilling to support measures that would help reduce traffic congestion during peak nights,” they said.
‘In addition to the logistical hurdles, the financial costs have also become overwhelming.
“Over the past two years we have personally invested more than $10,000 to meet the council’s demands, making it increasingly difficult to continue.”
Mr Eather explained that he started the light show at his mother Glennis’ home after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015.
A council was heavily criticized after organizers had to cancel a Christmas lights show due to too much red tape
Over the past four years, the event has reportedly raised more than $70,000 for the charity.
The council required a local investigation to be carried out before they could install ‘no standing’ road signs along the residential road to ensure traffic flowed smoothly.
However, Mr Eather said the council had never carried out the study and requested his team engage a traffic management company to obtain a plan.
Mr Eather said the council had made their requests inconsistently.
‘A traffic management consultant I spoke to was of the same opinion, [saying]”I need to know whether there are any changes in traffic conditions in certain areas or not before we can really move forward and provide you with a true and accurate traffic map and of course the associated costs,” he said.
Mr Eather’s family consulted with neighbors who supported the ‘no standing’ signs.
In response, the council offered an alternative plan, suggesting Mr Eather pay a traffic company to install bollards – rather than outsourcing the handling of individual parts of the traffic plan.
Mr Eather said it would cost double to triple the amount they had previously paid for traffic management and was completely unfeasible.
Michael Eather announced on Sunday that the exhibition at 63 Grange Road in Sandringham, in Melbourne’s south-east, would not go ahead in December
“I was hopeful that (the council) would step up and try to help us out a little more,” he said.
Bayside City Council expressed disappointment that organizers would cancel the exhibition.
Director of Environment, Recreation and Infrastructure Jill Colson said council officials have been working with event organizers for months.
The council sought to create a safe environment for the community when the organizer proposed changes to parking restrictions, she said in a statement.
‘The need for the [traffic management] plan and consultation have been communicated to the organizers several times over a longer period of time; However, they chose not to provide the necessary information to make this happen,” she said.
Ms Colson said the event brought joy to the community but consultation with local people was needed.
The Council will continue to try to assist organizers where necessary, she stressed.
Social media users said Bayside City Council was “ashamed” of the cancellation.
“They really seem to be one of the least supportive community councils in the South East,” one person wrote on Facebook.
‘The municipal government has always been pointless and useless. An absolute money pit that is managed accordingly,” wrote a second.
“They’re great when it comes to pouring money into crap that’s either done poorly, lacks common sense or goes way over budget.”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Bayside City Council for further comment.