Forster Christmas tree compared to previous Port Macquarie tree fail on NSW Mid-North Coast

Port Macquarie’s Christmas tree made international headlines last festive season, slammed for being an epic failure. This year, another Mid-North Coast town’s tree is copping it.

Last year, Port Macquarie’s town Christmas tree made headlines across the globe, slammed for being an epic failure.

This year, Mid-North Coast town Forster’s tree is being criticised in a similar way.

The MidCoast Council tree dubbed the ‘ugly Mr Squiggle’ is a large Norfolk Pine on Wallis Lake decorated each year by.

Forster residents like Cody May have slammed it online as “disgraceful” and made comparisons with Port Macquarie Hastings Council’s tree – roasted as the “worst in history” after a freak storm.

“It’s the second year in a row it’s been like this. They took down the one in Port Macquarie last year and I think this is just as bad,” Mr May said.

Last year, Port Macquarie's Christmas tree (left) made headlines across the world as an epic fail. This year, Forster's tree is copping a roasting.

MidCoast Council responded to concerns and said installing Christmas lights on large trees was a specialist operation which they do not have the budget to deliver.

“Our staff are not professional tree decorators and we have delivered what was possible with the budget available and in the same way we have in previous years,” the council’s director of liveable communities Paul De Szell, said.

In May, councillors decided this would be the last year they would take on the task and the council is asking business and community groups to put their hands up.

“Providing Christmas lighting is not a core service of Council, or something we have expert skills in, hence the decision to allow the community the opportunity to take ownership of the lighting going forward,” Mr De Szell said.

“Some sections of the community appear to be very passionate about the lighting and this will give them the opportunity to be involved in the decisions around it.”

Locals shared photos of the Forster Christmas tree in years gone by for comparison. Picture: Facebook

A year since the Port Macquarie tree captured the world’s attention, most locals remember the incident with good humour.

The council tried to do something a little different by decorating the large Norfolk Pine, rather than erecting the more traditional synthetic tree.

But when a hailstorm ripped through the region, the tree was hit hard.

Many giant baubles deflated and strings of lights drooped dangerously low, potentially posing a public safety risk.

Port Macquarie’s traditional Christmas tree being put back in place as the Norfolk Pine version was dismantled on December 7 last year. Picture: Janine Watson

Locals had turned out by the hundreds to see the tree light up as part of the annual Christmas Fair.

After waiting until after midnight, revellers were sorely disappointed with what they saw.

Photos and memes were shared widely and the tree fail soon went viral – mocked as an “epic fail”.

At the time, Port Macquarie Mayor Peta Pinson embraced the publicity and people are still talking about it.

Lauren Davy posted on a community Facebook forum: “Honestly I think we should use it as a marketing opportunity and Port Macquarie council should just hold a dodgy Christmas tree competition along the town green.”

Jacqueline Tracy suggested Forster was just copying Port Macquarie to get attention.

“Port got SO much attention last year from our tree, I’m thinking they are being competitive,” she posted.

Karen Low suggested starting a petition to bring back the “crap tree”.

“I don’t recall any other decoration creating such publicity, and laughter,” she posted.

MidCoast Council isn’t quite seeing the funny side and has pointed out the cost of the lights, installation and removal already comes in at about $8000.

Meanwhile, Christmas lights across the region costing council about $25,000.

Much of the cost associated with the lights is due to crane hire.

“Council has also supported the installation of timber trees and tree wraps in Wharf Street Forster, which were also installed this week,” Mr De Szell said.

“Disappointingly some have already been stolen.”