Vandals have tarnished the spirit of Christmas at Kingscliff after causing around $4,000 worth of damage to the town’s new Xmas tree over the weekend, less than 24 hours since its inaugural lighting.
Decorative lighting and ornaments were ripped off the tree and strewn around Marine Parade where the night before hundreds of people turned out to watch the lighting of the tree.
Tweed Shire Council general manager Troy Green said the senseless attack disappointed the community.
‘It is disheartening to know there are people in our community that think this type of behaviour is appropriate at anytime, least of all at Christmas,’ Mr Green said.
‘My staff and I have been receiving calls from local residents and businesses all morning about their disgust and witnessing of the vandalism, which has now been reported to police,’ he said.
Mr Green urged anyone who witnessed the vandalism to contact their local police station.
He said council would take legal action against the culprits if caught and pursue the full cost recovery of the damage .
’It wasn’t just the community Christmas tree which was damaged but also local business property as well, he said.
Council’s clean up bill is estimated at around $3,000.
The tree is expected to be repaired back to its full glory by close of business today, and security surveillance in the area has been stepped up.
The Kingscliff Christmas tree is one of two large plastic Xmas trees which council (ratepayers) and local business chambers have paid for. The other one is in the Tweed Heads CBD
Tweed mayor Katie Milne recently welcomed Murwillumbah business chamber’s move to pull out of the council-backed plan to erect the plastic Christmas trees in CBD areas around the shire at a cost of $60,000.
Instead, the chamber is working on its own plan to display a recycled Christmas tree featuring solar lights, for next year’s festive season.
In October, council approved the spend on the decorated trees for the Tweed Heads, Kingscliff and Murwilumbah CBDs, which Cr Milne opposed, saying they should be recycled and that ratepayers should not have to fund them.
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