ABOUT this time last year a spokesperson from the Whitsunday Regional Council said they were "very pleased” to have been given the green light from Ergon and the Department of Main Roads to hang Christmas decorations.

However Gary Stewart from Whitsunday Computers and Stationary was not happy with council's efforts to invigorate Proserpine with Christmas cheer.

"Where's our sparkle? Where's our merry Christmas,” he asked at the time.

This year council representatives have met with key stakeholders including Proserpine and Bowen Chambers of Commerce, Ergon, Tourism Bowen and the Department of Transport and Main Roads in a "collaborative move to enhance the Christmas spirit across the region”.

Mayor Andrew Willcox said "that is what the community deserves”.

"While plans are still being put in place, each of the four main townships in Bowen, Collinsville, Proserpine and Airlie Beach can expect to see a large lit up Christmas trees and fairy lights to decorate the main street,” he said.

"As we do each year, council will also decorate the customer service centres at Proserpine, Bowen and Collinsville and we hope that local business owners join in and decorate their shop fronts as well. Over the next few years we plan to expand on what we are able to deliver to our communities at Christmas time and I'm sure the end result will be worth waiting for.”

Secretary of the Proserpine Chamber of Commerce Karen Vloedmans said the Chamber was delighted to have worked with Council on town decorations.

"Christmas is such a magical time of year, it will be wonderful to see the region looking festive,” she said.

The next few weeks will reveal if the stakeholders involved can live up to the expectations of the people of Proserpine and quell a belief that council had not prioritised Proserpine as highly as Airlie Beach in regard to the festive decorations.

Tracey Cameron from Everything Office admitted the past few years had been a "disappointment” in regard to Christmas displays but she has confidence this year's festive season will bring a finish to the drainage works and the breaking out of decorations that had been mothballed since the coming of Cyclone Yasi in 2011.