RFS grants approval for Sydney Harbour fireworks to go ahead

The NSW RFS has granted an approval for the Sydney Harbour fireworks to go ahead on New Years Eve.

Authorities will make a final call on Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks on Monday afternoon. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The NSW Rural Fire Service has granted an approval to City of Sydney Council to hold its Sydney Harbour fireworks on New Years Eve, a decision that ends several days of debate and angst for spectators and businesses over whether or not the event would proceed.

The RFS tweeted its decision just before 5:30pm saying the fireworks display had “been approved”, but that the organisation, along with Fire and Rescue NSW, would assess “a number of other Total Fire Ban exemptions”.

The Sydney Harbour fireworks have been approved to proceed tomorrow.

The NSW Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW are assessing a number of other Total Fire Ban exemptions.#nswrfs #nswfires #frnsw pic.twitter.com/C3QtJtF5K8

— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) December 30, 2019

The decision over whether or not to grant a permit to the City of Sydney followed great uncertainty due to dry conditions, bushfire risks, and an existing total fire ban.

The Premier had earlier said the event would proceed on the approval of fire chiefs, who gave themselves until Monday afternoon to make their decision.

A number of council districts in rural areas have been forced to cancel their fireworks shows due to the bushfire risks. Earlier on Monday Parramatta Council, in Sydney’s west, announced that it had not been granted a permit for its fireworks show due to the dry conditions, heat and wind.

Acting Police Minister Anthony Roberts said his office had received more than 40 applications across 24 Local Government Areas for firework exemptions.

“These will all be considered on a case by case basis,” he said.

Barilaro calls for fireworks ban

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has backed calls to axe Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks.

On Monday morning, he tweeted “The risk is too high and we must respect our exhausted RFS volunteers.”

The Australian has confirmed he is currently in London on holiday and sent the tweet while overseas.

Sydney’s New Years Eve Fireworks should just be canceled, very easy decision. The risk is too high and we must respect our exhausted RFS volunteers. If regional areas have had fireworks banned, then let’s not have two classes of citizens. We’re all in this crisis together.

— John Barilaro MP (@JohnBarilaroMP) December 29, 2019

It comes after NSW Premier Glays Berejiklian said the fireworks should go ahead as planned, subject to safety approval from the RFS.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison echoed the Premier’s sentiment, describing the annual celebrations as a message of optimism and vibrancy that the world looks towards.

NSW Deputy Premiere John Barilaro. Picture: Dylan Robinson

But Mr Barilaro said having fireworks in the city would create “two classes of citizens”.

“We are all in this crisis together,” he tweeted.

An online petition with more than a quarter of a million signatures has called for the annual display to be axed, suggesting funds should be redirected to bushfire and drought relief.

Addressing those concerns, the City of Sydney said the majority of money for the budget has already been spent.

The council has donated $620,000 to support communities and wildlife affected by bushfires and drought. It will also promote the Red Cross Disaster Recovery and Relief fund during the live broadcasting of the event.

Final call on NYE fireworks imminent

NSW rural fire service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks are likely to go ahead under an exemption from a total fire ban, but the final call will be made on Monday afternoon.

The commissioner said that unless something “untoward” comes out of the Bureau of Meteorology forecast mid-afternoon the fireworks will likely go ahead as planned.

NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons. Picture: Getty Images

“I don’t envisage a cancellation of the fireworks because of the total fire ban,” he told Sky News on Monday morning.

The commissioner said that they would monitor weather conditions on New Year’s Eve, expecting a southerly wind to bring a cool change through the greater Sydney region by 9.00pm.

Mr Fitzsimmons said that not all firework activity would be exempt if a total fire ban were to be declared, and that the RFS would take into account location when assessing the risk of fireworks.

New Year’s Eve temperatures are set to soar in some parts of Sydney, with Penrith and Richmond expected to reach 44 degrees.

The Sydney area is expected to reach 33 degrees on Tuesday with smoke haze and a possible thunderstorm in the evening according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

More than one million people are expected to visit Sydney Harbour to watch the famous fireworks display and generate $130m for the NSW economy.

Concerns about the fireworks come amid a total fire ban for the Sydney area on Monday, with a poor air quality alert also issued for the city.

Parts of NSW and the ACT are on high-alert with the temperature set to increase with dry winds impacting bushfires.