Gift to the city: Tom Colless, KCCC president Mark Jarvis and Phil Hammon.
Austrian-style street lights could soon decorate the entrance to Katoomba after the local chamber of commerce presented two custom-made lamp posts to the council as gifts.
The six-metre high, three-light lamp posts were custom-made for Linz, Austria’s third-largest city, and the Katoomba Chamber of Commerce and Community (KCCC) wants to see them installed on the two roundabouts after Yeamans Bridge and at the top of Katoomba Street outside the railway station.
Ward 1 councillor Janet Mays requested a meeting be set up between Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) and the chamber to get the lights installed as soon as possible.
She moved the request as a matter of urgency at the June 26 council meeting, saying work to replace paving in Katoomba due to begin last week represented the ideal opportunity to get the lights installed with a minimum of disruption to locals.
“I would like to thank them [KCCC] for their gift to the community and having the vision for how they want to improve their town to make it a more enriching experience for out residents and tourists,” Clr Mays said outside the meeting.
“The Upper Mountains in the winter time we know is misty cool and these are lovely Austrian-style lights that will offset Katoomba.
“I want to thank them for their efforts.”
KCCC president Mark Jarvis said the posts would blend nicely with similar but shorter lamp posts to be placed along the easement from the Carrington Hotel to the new cultural centre.
The chamber was requesting council provide power to the two roundabouts so the lamp posts could be installed, and Mayor Daniel Myles has offered to chair a meeting to resolve any “roadblocks” to getting the work completed.
“We’re very appreciative that there was unanimous support from all councillors [for the matter of urgency],” Mr Jarvis said.
“The idea is to have the same theme of lighting on the easement to the cultural centre.”