North Sydney Council to introduce ticketed access to New Year’s Eve observation spot, charge schools rates

Cash-strapped North Sydney Council will charge $50 to watch NYE fireworks from Blues Point and wants private schools to pay rates for the first time.

Cash strapped North Sydney Council, which has already decided to charge $50 for New Year revellers to watch the fireworks from a key vantage point, now also wants to charge private schools rates.

Councillors on Monday night decided to implement “ticketed access” to Blues Point, a popular vantage point that fronts Sydney Harbour and the Harbour Bridge.

It was a decision that councillors say was made “with a heavy heart”, Mayor Zoe Baker said, citing already high New Year’s Eve expenditure and a poor budget position as decisive factors in the decision.

Sydney’s NYE fireworks shows draws in huge crowd numbers across the CBD and North Sydney. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

“I share your principle on this and have and every year that I’ve been on this council, I’ve always voted to keep public open space free and access free,” Ms Baker told the council meeting.

“But unfortunately, we as a council and a governing body have inherited a really precarious financial position that has not been relieved … And so it is with an exceptionally heavy heart that I find myself supporting the motion for one year only.” 


The council also voted to try to have the non-government schools in the area to pay council rates, which could raise $1m a year.

Some of Sydney’s most prestigious schools – St Aloysius’s College, Shore, Wenona and Monte Sant’Angelo – would be forced to pay rates if the council can convince the Minns government to change the laws.

The schools have already rejected an “offer” to voluntarily pay rates.

The council said the six private schools and the Australian Catholic University could raise more than $1 million if they volunteered to pay rates.

“Ten per cent of our land in the local government area is occupied by schools, the majority of which are private schools,” Cr Baker said.

“There is a deal of community concern about their use of public and community facilities and their lack of contribution towards it, so there’s a tension there.”

The budget blowout is largely due to the redevelopment of the council’s Olympic pool, next to Luna Park, which has doubled from $60m to about $122m.

The cost blowout for the redevelopment of the Olympic Pool at Bradfield Park has led to the council’s financial woes. Picture NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

The council is hoping the Minns government will step in to mean they won’t have to charge for the NYE event.

“Councillors every year that I’ve been on the council (17), have written to state governments of varying political persuasions to the same response, which is no.

“I’m hopeful that this Labor state government, who are committed to public access to the foreshore for the fireworks, may be persuaded to provide us, even if it were with the amount that we’re seeking to recover, so that we don’t have to proceed with the closing of Blue’s Point Reserve.”

Ms Baker pointed out the ticketed area was one location in a local government area “blessed with foreshore access and vantage points”.

“So if you cannot afford a ticket for Blues Point, then I’d urge you to go to Bradfield Park to Mary Booth Lookout to Kurraba Point, to Crem Point, to Waverton, to Carradeh Park, and every other vantage point … to see the fireworks on public land for free.”

North Sydney Council takes in the densely populated parts of Sydney immediately north of the Harbour. Picture: Supplied

The council area boasts three renowned vantage points for the show, namely Bradfield Park, Lavender Bay and Blues Point, with thousands of punters descending on the spots on December 31 to take in the party.

The council is looking to sell 8000 tickets for $50 each.

Councillor Nicole Antonini said the cost to the council of hosting New Year’s Eve celebrations was already over a million dollars and the implementation of the paid zone would reduce the cost to council by around $300,000 alone.

“Unfortunately … we’re in a difficult position. This is not ideal, it’s certainly not the preference of most of this council, but in our current financial situation, we have little choice, and for this year only, I support the recommendation of ticketing for this one site.”

The report to North Sydney Council outlined three options for the 2025-26 event.

Option 1 involved ticketing across all three spots to achieve “full cost recovery”.

Option 2 involved “partial cost recovery”, with ticketing limited to Blues Point, and Option 3 involved continuing with “free managed access”.

The motion to endorse option 2 was carried.

Previously access to all three sites was free. Picture: City of Sydney / NewsWire

Local resident Davie MacDonald said he “heartily opposed” the idea but if it had to happen, wanted to see an amendment allowing local residents continued access to the area.

“The cost imposed onto young families of being able to go and enjoy the fireworks, especially because there is special fireworks on before 9 o’clock, and I think that impulse against young families, and even for local residents is something that I think you need to take a careful consideration,” Mr MacDonald said.

“I especially look to the progressive people in this chamber, my Labor friends here, and my green friend there, Councillor Hoy, that you must consider very carefully how this impacts on working people. 


“Let me tell you, I’m here begging for this, and I never go to a New Year’s Eve fireworks display, I actually think it’s a waste of money and a terrible waste in that respect, but I ask you to at least, if you’re going to accept having a fee there, that there’s some kind of modification (for locals).”

Previously access to all three sites was free.

Council costs for the event include providing toilets and bins and crowd and traffic management.