Australia Day fireworks displays cancelled amid bushfire crisis

A number of Australia Day fireworks displays have been cancelled because of the bushfires, these are the ones that have bitten the dust.

A number of Australia Day fireworks displays have been cancelled because of the bushfires, these are the ones that have bitten the dust.

The Victorian government has pulled the plug on the city’s official Australia Day fireworks display at Docklands due to the state’s ongoing bushfire crisis.

A spokeswoman for the government said this was due to the “huge resources Parks Victoria has invested in fighting fires and protecting our parks and people over recent weeks”.

“While we understand that this decision may disappoint some families, the focus right now of Parks Victoria is, and has to be, on working with our other emergency services in the firefighting effort and the recovery of communities and wildlife,” she said.

There will be still be roaming artists, entertainment and markets at the event.

Other Melbourne councils like Wyndham in the city’s west and Whitehorse in the east have also announced they will scrap their fireworks displays because of the bushfires.

The Docklands Australia Day fireworks have been cancelled. Picture: Ian Currie

In NSW, a firework display in Parramatta has also been cancelled.

“We have decided not to proceed with the fireworks display at our upcoming Australia Day event in light of the ongoing bushfire crisis,” a council spokeswoman said.

“The rest of the Australia Day program will continue as planned and Council will be donating $40,000 to the NSW Rural Fire Service, in addition to the $10,000 donated in December.”

Again, there will still be entertainment and chances for residents to donate to help in the bushfire fight.

Australia Day celebrations in Canberra and Queanbeyan will also be without fireworks.

The ACT Government says a morning concert in Commonwealth Park to raise funds for those impacted by bushfires will be the focus of Canberra’s Australia Day celebrations this year, instead of the annual fireworks show along Lake Burley Griffin.

Canberra’s fireworks have also been cancelled.

Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Mayor Councillor Tim Overall says redirecting funds from the Queanbeyan fireworks display will allow the council to contribute a further $5000 to support affected communities.

In South Australia, the Australia Day Council (ADC) has confirmed it will go ahead with its traditional fireworks display in Adelaide next week.

However, ADC of South Australia chief executive Jan Chorley told the Advertiser the celebrations would acknowledge victims and volunteers in other ways, including by partnering with the Red Cross, which will collect donations for its bushfire relief fund.