Sydney Harbour NYE family fireworks to be cancelled to meet COVID-19 restrictions

Sydney councils are warning they are not in a position to take on the risks of staging upcoming NYE celebrations on Sydney Harbour as the State Government makes final preparations to have a “toned down” display at midnight – with the 9pm family fireworks set to be cancelled.

The harbour fireworks are set to look very different in Sydney this year.

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The annual family fireworks on Sydney Harbour will be cancelled to meet strict COVID-19 restrictions as authorities weigh up the risks of staging the upcoming New Year’s Eve celebrations.

The State Government has confirmed the child-friendly event at 9pm will not be going ahead as part of a “toned down” celebration to usher in the new year.

The decision comes as North Sydney Council calls for further details about its involvement in managing crowds - which traditionally top one million along the harbour - the associated health risks of public gatherings.

In a normal year, North Sydney Council said most of the event planning would have been completed by October including applying for road closures, arranging four ticketed spectator areas and engaging staff to manage crowds.

New Year's Eve crowds setting up early at Kirribilli last year.

Campers also flock to the area to gain a vantage point.

But a report by the council said the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) – which took custodianship of the event in September – has yet to brief landholders and agencies about how the event will proceed in less than two months time.

North Sydney Mayor Jilly Gibson said uncertainty about attendance numbers, the scale of the fireworks and public health orders meant the council was not in a position to take on the risk of staging its share of the celebrations in a COVID-safe manner.

“We’ve written letters (to the DPC) requesting to be informed immediately about what the plan is but we still haven’t heard back and it’s coming to the point where it’s going to be impossible for us to plan given the amount of time we have left,” Cr Gibson said.

The fireworks typically attract crowds of at least one million.

“Even if we fenced off all our foreshore parks, people would still come into the area and that would most certainty create a public health risk.

“It’s disappointing – if there’s one year we all want to celebrate seeing the end of it’s 2020 but we also have to be realistic and think about the health and safety of our residents and the visitors that would flock to the harbour.”

A DPC spokesman told the North Shore Times final arrangements were being made this week to have a shorter and “toned down” midnight display, along with cancelling the 9pm family fireworks and setting strict caps on crowd numbers.

The spokesman said that under current plans councils and landholders would still be responsible for managing outdoor areas including fencing off parks to deter excess crowds.

The council’s general manager has written to the DPC requesting confirmation on the council’s involvement, saying planning would also involve hiring contractors for ticketing, lighting, generators, site sheds, marquees, signage and first aid tents.

Funding for North Sydney Council’s involvement in the event was budgeted to make up the bulk of $950,000 it was due to spend on four public events over the summer period.

Other landholders and agencies involved in the event include the City of Sydney.