Johnston's Shoes owner Michael Johnston said he was “disappointed” by this year’s ‘Aussie’ Christmas theme around The Levee. 

“I don’t think it epitomises anything about Christmas …  It has a more Australia Day feel with Hills Hoists, Holden utes and surfboards,” he said.

“Council had some nice nutcracker decorations [last year], and you’d expect that council would be building on that but they haven’t.

“Christmas is an easy time to market, it isn’t time for innovation. They’ve dropped the ball. It’s just lacking a Christmas feel.” 

Mr Johnston added he’d spoken with other business owners and customers who shared his sentiment that there was room for improvement.

Kim’s Giftshop owner Kim Barker said the decorations lacked the traditional “Christmas spirit".

“It’s more adept to Australia Day than Christmas,” she said. The decorations include Christmas themed Australian birds in the trees, cricket bats, balls, thongs, gift wrapped surfboards and Merry Christmas banners hanging from the light poles, a giant paste up Christmas tree and oversized Christmas presents at The Riverlink and fairy lights throughout the area. 

There is also Australian Christmas carol lyrics on some of the plant surrounds, the wrapping of tree trunks in Christmas theme colours and baubles hanging from the trees. But Maitland Council’s Vibrant City executive manager Rachel MacLucas said the decoration plan was developed in consultation with business owners in the area.

“This Marketing and Activity Plan is developed in consultation with The Levee traders, outlining the items and initiatives that the rate levy paid by businesses within the precinct will be spent on over the coming 12 months,” she said. 

“Christmas decorations at The Levee Shared Zone are part of Christmas at The Levee within the plan. Each year, these follow a different theme with this year being ‘Australian Christmas’. 

“There has been both positive and negative feedback received about this year’s theme from traders and the community.”

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