“We would like to decorate the Kempsey Bridge for the Christmas period,” Leeane Stewart from the Kempsey and District Chamber of Commerce promotions committee said.

“We are trying to achieve a number of things this year, with the highlight being able to light up the bridge over the Christmas period.

“It looks like lighting up the bridge could be a reality as we already have the support of the Kempsey and District Chamber of Commerce, Roads and Maritime Services, Kempsey Shire Council and others, however, we still need local business support to make it happen.”

Ms Stewart said to light up the bridge with Christmas lights could be expensive, so it would take time for the bridge to be completely lit up.

“We want to put lights across the two end spans of the bridge this year,” Ms Stewart said.

“The lights are an expensive product so we will try to build on it each year.  

"This year we will be doing it on the Smith and Lord St sides with rope lighting and I believe it will be very effective.”

Along with the lighting of the bridge, the Kempsey and District Chamber of Commerce is working towards full Christmas celebration mode. 

“The Christmas tree will go up in late November as per normal and we’ve been able to secure new decorations this year so it will be a new-look tree,” Ms Stewart said.

“We are also looking at wrapping all the garbage bins with Christmas stickers in the CBD and West Kempsey, and as in previous years, each business can purchase a Christmas flag to go outside their businesses which creates a great look down the street.”