Gold Coast City Council cancels fireworks display at 2019 Mayor’s Christmas Carols amid fire risk
The Mayor’s Christmas Carols will look a bit different this year with Council announcing plans to axe the fireworks. Some unusual possible replacements are being considered.
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The Mayor’s Christmas Carols will look a bit different this year with Gold Coast City Council announcing plans to axe the fireworks finale in 2019.
The festivities, which will be headlined by Australian singer David Campbell, will take place on December 7 at Broadwater Parklands in Southport.
Traditionally the city’s major Christmas event finishes with a large fireworks display but plans have been scuttled due to the bushfire threat.
It is understood it’s the first time in the event’s history the fireworks have been cancelled.
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Mayor Tom Tate personally made the call this morning, acknowledging the horrific bushfire conditions across the state.
“I made the decision that now is not the right time to be holding a fireworks display,” he told the Bulletin.
“People are suffering around Queensland and Australia following the disastrous bushfires.
“We need to respect that and in my opinion it would be immoral to be letting off fireworks at this time.
“I know some people will be disappointed but it’s still going to be a great night.”
Cr Tate said it was also environmentally responsible to skip them this year.
“We also don’t want to add to the air pollution that remains from the bushfires,” he said.
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Cr Tate said council would look at other alternatives to wrap up the festivities, with laser lights among the suggestions currently being considered.
The funding for the fireworks would be “reallocated”, Cr Tate said.
It follows in the wake of other Gold Coast organisations cancelling their fireworks displays due to conditions.
Pacific Pines Christmas Carols said it was the “responsible thing” to do.
Meanwhile over the border, the Seagulls club in Tweed Heads West announced it would instead donate the cost of their display to fire relief efforts.
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