Tom Ingleton
Santa Claus could be coming to more suburbs in Hume after the council decided to scout for new carol options in the Southern suburbs, following feedback from the community in recent months.
At its most recent council meeting, the council carried a motion to look at options for hosting or funding a small-scale carol event and to consider the cost of the event in the 2025-26 budget process.
Carols by candlelight events are popular across Hume, with the average attendance at Hume council’s annual event estimated about 10,000 people, with a number of other community-led events occurring each year.
More than 550 groups were contacted to gather feedback as part of the process.
Some respondents said they were were interested in holding their own carols events indicated Broadmeadows, Craigieburn, Greenvale, Mickleham, Tullamarine and Sunbury as the locations for these events, with some saying there was a need for council support.
Councillor Naim Kurt explained the motion was partly driven by the fact the city’s main Christmas carols were moved to Anzac Park, leaving the south of Hume without a dedicated celebration since 2013.
“There is a lot of passion in the Westmeadows community, particularly down in Fawkner Street, for potentially hosting a carols event,” he said.
“The proposed event is not intended to be a replacement for the major carols event in Craigieburn, but to offer a local alternative for those in the southern part of the municipality.”
Councillor Carly Moore seconded the motion, noting that “one of the things we hear consistently from the community is the quality of the events we run and how much people love to attend them.”
Councillor Karen Sherry also supported the notice of motion, and pointed out that areas in south Hume could be perfect venues for a smaller, yet equally heartwarming, carols event.
“There are sites which could be of interest and communities of need such as those in Coolaroo, another place that comes to mind is Broadmeadows,” she said.
