Hobart is the capital of Tasmania in Australia. A new city Christmas tree is up, and the citizens of Hobart are not at all pleased. In fact, they are taking to social media to air their grievances. Well, it is minimalist and untraditional, but for a large outdoor decoration, it’s not all that bad, is it? The lights even change color! What’s the problem?
A $35,000 Christmas tree erected by Hobart City Council to shake off comments that it had "possibly the worst Christmas decorations in the country" has come under fire on social media.
The "modern and trendy" tree was installed in Salamanca Place, two years after Deputy Lord Mayor Ron Christie described the city's decorations as "a little bit tired".
Oh dear, I understand now. The cost wasn’t because they hired a famous artist to design it: it was designed and erected by Hobart City Council members. No wonder townspeople are trashing the city on Twitter! But maybe it’s not as bad as it seems. Hobart’s Lord Mayor Sue Hickey has lost a lot of sleep over the internet brouhaha.
The tree is not Hobart’s main Christmas tree, but a public art installation – weatherproof and built to withstand vandalism, Ald Hickey said.
Hobart City Council spends $5000 a year on its main traditional tree in Wellington Court, maintaining the fuel retardant barriers and replacing the baubles that get faded in the sun. The Salamanca Square tree “is very low maintenance” in comparison, she said.
Geelong Mayor Darryn Lyons tweeted “hahahahah hilarious” about the Hobart tree on Tuesday but Hobart doesn’t have his extravagant budget, she said.
“The $1 million Geelong tree costs $35,000 just to pull it out of storage every year and people are jumping up and down about $35,000.”
City budgets are downright incomprehensible. Ever since my small town elected an interior decorator as mayor, we’ve had a winter wonderland of Christmas decorations. And now I know why my property taxes are so high. -via Buzzfeed
(Image source: Hobart City Council at Facebook)