Gold Coast Christmas carols organisers consider axing fireworks
Fireworks are set to be cancelled at more Gold Coast Christmas events, with New Year’s Eve displays also under serious threat.
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GOLD COAST New Year’s Eve fireworks are under threat, as organisers anxiously wait to see if fire bans will be lifted in time.
A number of major Gold Coast events are now considering cancelling their festive displays as most of the state remains under a State of Fire Emergency since November 9.
CEO of the Surfers Paradise Alliance Mike Winlaw said it was very likely fireworks would be axed from their Carols on the Beach program on December 22.
“With Christmas carols at this stage we’re probably going to make the call to cancel those this year, but with New Year’s we’re waiting to see what transpires in terms of fire bans and whether they’re going to be lifted.”
Mr Winlaw said if fire bans were lifted the fireworks would go ahead as planned on December 31.
He said the Alliance would work with the Salvos to encourage donations on both nights to communities affected by recent events.
Meanwhile the Broadbeach Alliance is also keeping a close eye on fire bans, with hopes to make a final call on their December 14 Christmas fireworks by the end of this week.
Connecting Southern Gold Coast CEO Josh Martin said fireworks at the Coolangatta Christmas Carols on December 15 were also reliant on fire bans being lifted.
Mr Martin said the display was “a smaller element” of the evening, but work was currently underway to investigate a range of alternatives to fireworks.
Organisers would monitor conditions for both the carols and New Year’s Eve celebrations, and consult council on whether or not to proceed with fireworks, Mr Martin said.
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It comes as Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate doubles down on plans to cancel the Mayor’s Christmas Carols fireworks despite a plea from the pyrotechnic industry to hold them as a fundraiser.
Cr Tate personally made the call to pull the plug on the Mayor’s Christmas Carols fireworks, claiming it would be “immoral” to hold a display while communities in Queensland and NSW continue to battle bushfires.
But Skylighter Fireworks CEO Max Brunner urged the Mayor to reconsider, claiming it could harm an already “devastated” industry.
He encouraged council to instead keep its firework display as a fundraiser for drought and fire-affected communities.
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Cr Tate told the Bulletin he is sticking by the original call: “As far as the Mayor’s Christmas Carols are concerned, I’ve made my decision and this year there won’t be fireworks.”
“If other organisations wish to fundraise that’s up to them.”
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