Christmas decorations in Huddy Street, Forde. Photo: Huddy Street Christmas Lights, Facebook.
Residents of Huddy Street in Forde have dialled up Christmas this year to the point the sheer scale of lights and decorations have caught the eye of the ACT Government – and they’ve been asked to tone it down, or cop a $2000 fine.
Phil Pizzano started the tradition about 14 years ago, lighting up the Gungahlin street every year between 1 and 25 December and raising funds for charity, including Roundabout Canberra and Lifeline Canberra, in the process.
But this year, he’s had to apply for a land-use permit – including details on traffic and waste management, public liability insurance, and stakeholder consultation.
Without it, the government’s City and Environment directorate has threatened to issue “removal directions”.
The streetwide display has drawn ire due to some of the decorations – lights, Christmas trees and inflatables – being erected on public verges and footpaths along the street.
According to a government fact sheet, “Christmas light displays can be a great way for Canberrans to celebrate Christmas and boost community spirit” and “in most cases, Christmas light displays do not need any involvement by the ACT Government”.
It’s understood the ACT Government received a complaint from nearby residents. Photo: Huddy Street Christmas Lights, Facebook.
“However, in limited cases, ACT Government involvement is required because the scale or nature of the display causes traffic, parking and safety implications or potentially leads to neighbourhood tension by attracting significant night-time traffic to the street,” the document reads.
“In limited circumstances, a Christmas light display could be considered a ‘special event’, as defined in Roads ACT’s special events handbook for events organisers.”
The government will only review light displays if it receives an enquiry or complaint, and will “first discuss options for resolution with the householder”.
In the case of Huddy Street, it’s understood a group of nearby residents put in a complaint, citing the crowds, noise, mess and lack of toilets and rubbish bins.
Pizzano and the other decorators have until 7 December to either remove the decorations or receive approval for the land-use application, at risk of a $2000 fine.
But in the meantime, here are other displays definitely worth driving past:
Northside:
- 64 Rollston Street, Amaroo
- Triton Street, Dunlop
- 8 Scurry Street, Dunlop
64 Rollston Street, Amaroo. Photo: Canberra Christmas Lights Locations, Facebook.
- 3 Cleggett Street, Forde
- 6 Beela Place, Ngunnawal
- Burraly Court, Ngunnawal
Southside:
- 1 Eaglemont Retreat, Conder
- 36 Ballarat Street, Fisher
- 4 Stacy Street, Gowrie
- 2 Callaway Crescent, Gordon
17 Middleton Circuit, Gowrie 2904. Photo: Canberra Christmas Lights Locations, Facebook.
- 225 Newman‑Morris Circuit, Oxley
- 77 O’Connor Circuit, Calwell
- 17 Middleton Circuit, Gowrie
Surely we’ve missed one. Drop it in the comments so others know where to go!
