Sydney’s NYE fireworks will go ahead but people urged to watch them at home

Sydney’s world-famous New Year’s Eve fireworks will go ahead, but the Premier has told revellers to stay at home and watch them on TV this year.

Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks will be on, but you’ll most likely be watching it from home or a half-empty restaurant rather than harbourside.

That’s the verdict from Premier Gladys Berejiklian, who said she wanted to ensure the state government did not spend “a single hour imposing anything we do not have to”.

Last year’s spectacular fireworks show on the harbour. Picture: Peter Parks/AFP

The Premier has also brushed off calls for an expansion of the so-called NYE “yellow zone” where police will actively disperse crowds in the hours before 2021.

Plans for a 5000-person fireworks event in Fairfield — and events in Liverpool and ­regional NSW — are also on track.

“Everybody should assume they’re watching the fireworks from home this year,” Ms ­Berejiklian said.

“In relation to hospitality venues, everybody should ­assume the 4sqm rule as ­opposed to the 2sqm rule.

“In relation to other outdoor events where we have proposed that frontline workers will be able to go to certain venues, that will be obviously reviewed in the next few days.”

Premier Gladys Berejiklian says everybody should assume they’re watching the fireworks on TV at home. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jenny Evans

Restaurant and Catering CEO Wes Lambert said CBD restaurants were remaining open, despite the new health restrictions sparked by the ­Avalon cluster, which on Saturday grew to 116 cases.

“However, restaurants have seen a reduction in bookings by up to 50 per cent because of the one person per 4sqm rule,” Mr Lambert said.

Many Sydney councils had not even planned any NYE events, including Cumberland, Strathfield, Parramatta and Canterbury-Bankstown.

Fairfield Showground will host 5000 people in a one-person-per-8sqm event.

Mayor Frank Carbone says Fairfield’s fireworks event …

… will have COVID safety measures in place.

“The event is QR coded, we have two separate zones that don’t mix, it is only open to Fairfield Council residents and we will be handing out masks,” Fairfield Mayor Frank Car­bone said.

“My residents want this event and many can’t aff­ord $300 to go to a restaurant and watch the city fireworks.”

Liverpool City Council is proceeding with multiple 9pm fireworks displays in five southwestern Sydney suburbs.

The events will be closed to the public, with people urged to stay on their properties during the seven-minute shows.

A council spokesman said on Friday that there was “no change” to current plans.

But restaurant and pub owners outside of Sydney may see a better NYE.

Ms Berejiklian said there were no plans to impose further restrictions on regional NSW.

This is despite a December 21 flight from Sydney to Griffith with a confirmed COVID-19 case and 27 other people on board.

Orange City Council Mayor Reg Kidd is expecting 3000 at their NYE show and said: “Bookings for pubs, clubs and restaurants will be at the maximum that they are allowed.”