‘Shut us down’: Christmas decorations torn down over complaints

A Queensland couple have revealed the sad reason they’ve been forced to tear down part of their Christmas light display.

A Brisbane couple are fuming after their local council told them to tear down part of their Christmas light display following two community complaints.

Coopers Plains resident, Jamie Lehmann, revealed Brisbane City Council had “shut down” his impressive Christmas light display, which consists of strings of fairy lights, light up reindeers, various animal lawn ornaments, and a decorated archway.

“Council just came out and shut us f***** down,” he said a TikTok video, which has amassed over 700,000 views since it was posted on Thursday.

The Coopers Plains house has been decked out in Christmas lights. Picture: TikTok@coopersplainslights

The display includes various lawn ornaments. Picture: TikTok@coopersplainslights

Mr Lehman, whose household has put up a Christmas display for the past few years, said one community member had reportedly complained to council and “ruined it for thousands of people”.

“No Christmas this year,” he said. “I’m done. I’m sick and tired of this f***** bull****.”
“One person gets away with f***** shutting the whole f***** thing down.”

Mr Lehman was told council had received a complaint. Picture: TikTok@coopersplainslights

He said a representative from council “came out and shut us f***** down”. Picture: TikTok@coopersplainslights

Mr Lehmann also shared a photo of a calling card he received from Brisbane City Council relating to a complaint, on Facebook.

“People honestly just can’t help themselves,” he wrote in the post, adding “#grinchchristmas in the community.”

Brisbane City Council told news.com.au it had received two complaints about residents accessing public walkways, following a separate complaint about the display last year.

“If the council is going to state it’s the same person that complained last year, I’m done! All the lights will be removed and we will not be proceeding with anything this year and signs will be plastered in our yard stating that the complainer and the council shut us down!”

Mr Lehmann received a calling card from council. Picture: Facebook.

Mr Lehmann’s partner, Laeticia Lay, told news.com.au they were “frustrated” and “angry” when council told them to remove part of their decorations.

“We put so much time, effort, money, hard work and dedication into our display.”

She said an initial community complaint related to a lack of footpath outside their property.

However she said the couple had created a 1.3 metre footpath for members of the public to walk through but it was briefly blocked off for safety reasons while they were setting up their display.

“The council then started to complain about the lights being on the nature strip.”

She said she “couldn’t understand” why council were requesting the partial removal of the decorations after offering the Festive Footpath program, which allows Brisbane residents to decorate their footpath and street trees during the designated festive period of Halloween and Christmas.

“You need to make sure that your festive footpath decorations are respectful of the needs of others. They must be well-maintained and safe, must not damage street trees, and must keep the footpath accessible for everyone without negatively impacting the environment and surrounding infrastructure,” the council’s website reads.

Ms Lay said Mr Lehmann offered the council to move the display back from kerb and leave the 1.2 metres council requires under their Public Land And Council Assets Local Law.

“He [a council representative] said nope, it all has to go back to the letterbox.”

“Then why offer this program then?” she asked.

Ms Lay said the council threatened to issue a $800 fine a day until the decorations were removed.

However the couple are still yet to change their display and want to add to it so it’s completed in time for the 2023 KIISmas Lights Competition, run by the radio station.

Ms Lay said they created a 1.3 metre footpath which they claimed met requirements. Picture: TikTok@laeticialay

She said council knocked back their offer to move the decorations back from the kerb. Picture: TikTok @laeticialay

In a statement to news.com.au, Chair for City Standards Councillor Kim Marx said Brisbane City Council “did not advise this resident to completely remove their display but did require a minor adjustment so other residents could safely park and exit their cars”.

“It was the residents’ decision not to make this adjustment. Council aims to work with the resident to create a safe display before taking any further action.”

Council also said officers observed that trees had been cut back by the resident to accommodate decorations. However, Ms Lay denied this, telling news.com.au the trees were cut back “because they were protruding the power lines”.

Ms Lay said she has reached out to her local member who has been in touch with council, and is expecting a response soon.