Port Macquarie’s community Christmas tree fail makes worldwide headlines

A Mid-North Coast community Christmas tree made headlines across the world being roasted as the “worst in history” after a freak storm.

It made headlines across the world as one of the most underwhelming Christmas trees of all time after a local council’s attempt to do “something a little different” went horribly wrong.

Port Macquarie Hastings Council decided to decorate a large Norfolk Pine in the CBD with lights and huge baubles rather than the traditional option used in years gone by.

But when a hailstorm ripped through the region the tree was hit hard, with many of the giant baubles deflated and the strings of lights drooping dangerously low posing a risk to public safety.

Locals had turned out by the hundreds to see the tree light up as part of the annual Christmas Fair last Friday and after waiting until after midnight to see the great reveal, revellers were sorely disappointed with what they saw.

Photos and memes were shared widely and the Christmas tree fail soon went viral with comments of being the “ugliest”, “worst in history” and an “epic fail”.

Dave Wilson took this photo of the tree before the decorations were removed on Wednesday morning.

However upbeat mayor Peta Pinson commended the community for their good humour, even going as far a describing it as a victory.

“We know many in our community were disappointed with our Norfolk Pine tree – and fair enough,” Ms Pinson said.

“Let‘s be real. Our poor tree does look like it was decorated by Santa after he’s whizzed around the world and had too many eggnogs.

“We are working hard to resurrect our original tree that has been used in previous years, which has always been a crowd pleaser,” she posted on Tuesday.

Ms Pinson said the Christmas Fair certainly gave people something to talk about and given the theme for 2022 was reconnection- “we say, mission accomplished”.

Council workers were out in force on Wednesday morning removing the huge baubles and delicately untangling the strings of lights – meanwhile reinstalling the original tree.

The original Christmas tree is put back in place as the decorations from the Norfolk Pine ‘fail’ get removed on Wednesday morning, December 7. Picture: Janine Watson

Despite council’s best efforts to make light of the situation community members continued to describe it as a serious and embarrassing gaffe.

“It is pretty disgusting that the Council is still making a joke about the lack of tree. I think the majority of residents were just disgusted and embarrassed by the non attempt,” Heather Clark posted on council’s Facebook page.

“So it just proves how lazy, complacent, bumbling, and downright ineffectual the Council actually is. It is so shameful that this incompetence has made news across the country.”