Christmas has been saved in Timaru thanks to local businesses coming together. The wider community has a chance to help too.

A community-led proposal has been progressed to install a felled pine tree, to replace the fire damaged Christmas tree, at the top of the Bay Hill.

Local business leader Gordon Handy was relaxing on Friday night after hearing about the Christmas tree being damaged early the same morning and thought “the community has to have a Christmas tree.”

“I was just sitting there and thought how we must be able to do something, so I gave Nigel [Bowen] a call and asked him if something was being planned and he said there wasn’t a plan in place,” Gordon said.

“I thought, well I could get this to happen, so I reached out to some other businesses, and it didn’t take us long to get a pretty good plan in place.”

A Radiata Pine (Pinus radiata) from the Timaru District Council forestry block was felled and transported on Tuesday evening to the top of the Bay Hill Piazza. Where council took over the installation between rain bursts.

“Hilton Haulage came on board to transport the tree, and the base was re-engineered by Fabtech,” says Gordon. Hardie Building 2024 Ltd also donated time and resources for the tree to go up.

Mayor Nigel Bowen said this is the definition of the community coming together.

“I got the call on Friday night, and Gordon said it wouldn’t be Christmas for the community without a tree, to which I agree,” Nigel said.

“I saw on social media how much the community actually cared for and enjoyed the Christmas tree we lost last week; it will be good to have that space filled again, just in time for Christmas.

“As this tree is for the community by the community, it is only fitting the community help us decorate it.”

Members of the community who wish to contribute to the tree decorations may drop in an ornament to any Timaru District Library from Wednesday 17 December to Thursday 18 December 3pm.

Due to health and safety restrictions, council staff will be hanging these decorations on behalf of the community.

Decorations need to be sturdy (no glass or ceramics) and around the size of a tennis ball. Alternatively, a piece of wide ribbon or cloth (able to be tied) of festive colour(s) will also be accepted.

Donations to contribute to the cost of decorations have also been received from Tyson Ford Carpentry, South Canterbury Roofing, Manage My Cashflow, South Canterbury Neighbourhood Support, IHC South Canterbury, Pampered to Perfection, Shiphop Brewery, Clark Decoration and James Meager MP for Rangitata.

Photo courtesy of Cllr Owen Jackson