ALBURY and Wodonga councils could combine for a cross-border Christmas carols extravaganza on the Lincoln Causeway this year with traditional venues off-limits.
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Albury’s event is held in QEII Square, but the $10.5 million art gallery redevelopment is not due for completion until mid-next year.
Wodonga Council is a sponsor of the Wod-onga Brass Band carols, which have been held in Willow Park for a decade.
But the park will be out of action due to re-surfacing works in December.
The two councils are tight-lipped about details of a joint event at Gateway Lakes, which recently hosted Chryslers on the Murray and was the venue for a Jimmy Barnes concert in 2011.
The art gallery works in QEII Square prompted the cancellation of this year’s Applause Festival.
Band president Ron Mildren last night confirmed a meeting last week with the council when two options were put on the table for this year.
They were being part of a proposed joint council event or at Birallee Park.
“Wodonga Brass is committed to holding a community carols event in Wodonga irrespective if other events are arranged,” he said.
“We will find somewhere.
“We’ve been doing this since 1976 and have got no intention of not holding a carols evening.”
The Albury and Wodonga carols events have traditionally attracted crowds of from 5000 to 10,000 people.
He said cricket commitments could be an issue in holding an event at Birallee Park with the Wodonga carols traditionally held on the last Sunday before Christmas.
Before moving to Willow Park the carols were held at Martin Park and Woodland Grove.
Mr Mildren said the band was still to confirm a location for a new home with the band hall in Hovell Street earmarked to be bulldozed to allow for an extension of South Street to Havelock Street.
The band has been given formal notice it must vacate by October.
It has rejected seven options.
The band has been at its location since 1967.