Published on Monday, 19 January 2026 at 11:26:51 AM
What began as a casual chat between Shire teams has turned into a new festive tradition! The Christmas Lights Trail, first imagined by an IT team member and brought to life through clever mapping technology and Community Development teamwork, proved to be a huge success helping families plan their festive adventures to spot dazzling displays.
The map allowed anyone to register an address displaying Christmas lights, without collecting personal information. It was safe, anonymous, easy to use, and the community embraced it wholeheartedly.
By the end of the month, 72 properties had been added and the map had been viewed 2,660 times. Unsurprisingly, the busiest period was just before Christmas, with 395 views on 20 December and another surge of 366 views on Christmas Eve as families headed out for their annual drive to spot vibrant displays.
Shire teams are thrilled with how well the map performed. It delivered real‑time information, took the guesswork out of planning a night out and required only a few hours of staff time to set up - a cost‑effective initiative with a big impact. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with residents praising how simple, streamlined and user‑friendly the tool was.
With such a strong first year, planning has already begun for next Christmas. New features are planned and additions to the event such as a friendly “Battle of the Burbs” to see which suburb shines the brightest, or encouragement prize raffles for those who put extra effort into decorating their homes, are being considered. The Community Development team is keen to hear what the community thinks and welcomes suggestions at community@esperance.wa.gov.au.
What started as a casual conversation has become a new Esperance tradition — one that brought joy, connection and a little extra sparkle to the festive season.
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