Tower star shines way
NOT only will it look pretty - the Christmas star light perched on top of the water tower in Old Maryborough Rd with its LED lights, is environmentally friendly.
KDE Services staff along with Keba Engineering Gympie staff were this morning working to lift and install the star, using a 52 metre crane and although the star weighs about 300 kilograms, the 50 tonne lifting capacity was needed to get sufficient height.
Keba Engineering did the metal work while KDE Services did the electrical and will carry out the maintenance work for the next five years - the length of time the star will stay on the tower.
The lights will be turned on tonight and will stay on from 6.30-11pm, using a timer.
A decision to put Christmas lights on the tower was made by Gympie Regional Council at its December 6 meeting with all but one councillor voting in favour of the lights.
The installation of the lights was $24,000 and maintenance will cost $1750 per annum.
General manager of water and sewerage Ian Schiefelbein said council received $14,500 per year from tower rentals with $24,500 having been paid in advance into the general funds and not the water and sewerage funds.
