Campers banned at harbourside park for Sydney’s NYE fireworks

SLEEPING out on the harbour’s edge to secure the prime viewing spots for the New Year’s Eve fireworks will be banned after poor behaviour by campers in Kirribilli.

The 2015 New Year’s Eve fireworks attracted a global audience. Picture: Richard Dobson

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TENTS are pitched days in advance to nab the best spots for Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks spectacular.

But this year plans are afoot to boot the campers out of one of the most popular harbourside parks.

Mary Booth Reserve in Kirribilli attracts large crowds due to its views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

Spectators wait patiently at Kirribilli before the fireworks. Picture: Bradley Hunter

This year North Sydney Council intends to work with police and security guards to remove the campers following complaints.

“Mary Booth Reserve is of particular concern due to its proximity to residents and lack of services such as toilets and bins,” a council report states.

“Council received several complaints from residents about the campers. However, to prevent campers, Council would need to fence the reserves a few days before the event and pay for security guards to enforce the no camping.”

The issue was tabled at the latest council meeting where councillors voted unanimously to close the reserve on December 30 at 8am.

There are no plans to stop the campers at Blues Point. Picture: Chris Pavlich

The park will also be fenced to ensure the reserve can be “safely managed”.

Campers also set up in Blues Point Reserve before the NYE fireworks.

The council report found that it would be extremely difficult to fence this park and didn’t propose to eject the campers from this area.

The council agreed to bring in changes for this year’s event at an additional cost of $50,000. This includes extra infrastructure, toilets, signs and promotion.

The council expects to spend about $350,000 this year to manage the event.

Complaints from residents after the 2015 event also covered defecation on private property, road closures and cost to council.

It noted that people had to queue for up to 90 minutes to use the toilet in Bradfield Park as the toilet supplier couldn’t provide additional toilets as requested.

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