Snow blow to Christmas lights display after neighbour complaint

The Hobart house known for bringing a white Christmas to Tasmania has been forced to cancel its snow display after a complaint from a neighbour.

Giancarlo (Johnny) Rigoli who feels a bit deflated after complaints against his Christmas display at West Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd. Picture: Chris Kidd

The Hobart homeowner known for bringing a touch of white Christmas to Tasmania through a spectacular lights display has been forced to abandon one of his signature attractions - snow.

West Hobart’s Johnny Rigoli has fielded dozens of questions from families visiting his display in Molle St, all relating to the absence in the past few days of a snow machine.

“Where is the snow? Where has it gone?”, they ask.

Following a complaint from a neighbour and a directive from City of Hobart, Mr Rigoli has been forced to switch off the machine at 6pm each evening – which he was only running for ten-second bursts at a time.

The neighbour had made a noise complaint against Mr Rigoli, despite, he says, the snow machine creating a short noise not dissimilar to the typical sounds of suburbia.

His house, which he takes more than a month to decorate each year, is a local hub of festive joy and attracts swarms of families during the Christmas season.

Mr Rigoli even dresses up as Santa and hands out free lollies to visitors.

Giancarlo (Johnny) Rigoli Christmas display at West Hobart. Picture: Supplied

“I mean, it’s pretty disappointing to have to alter the display, because the snow machines are a big part of it,” he said.

“Any kid or family who comes here is always asking: when’s the snow coming?

“Sometimes people stay and wait for it and you see the kids are running around and just loving it, so knowing I can’t do it past dark is a bit of a kick in the guts for me and for them.”

Far from just a fun Christmas display, Mr Rigoli’s dazzling house is also a charity fundraiser.

Partnering with Hobart City Mission, he displays QR codes on his fence showing people where they can donate to people doing it tough.

“We’ve never had a problem before, so it’s really sad that someone has complained this year.

“Usually the neighbours love it – and it’s not like it’s on all the time.

“We just give the machine a burst when there are a whole bunch of people or if there’s a decent crowd.

“It would have been nice if the complainants could have spoken to me personally to try and find a compromise, rather than just trying to get it banned like this.”

Mr Rigoli’s house will be part of the annual Tassie Christmas Lights Trail, where Tasmanians are encouraged to gather a group of friends or family and trek around to see local light displays.

Organised via Facebook, the event allows people to add festive homes to the trail and then rate them using a star system.

The trail will run until Christmas Eve.