PM throws his support behind Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks

Scott Morrison wants Sydney’s NYE fireworks to go ahead, as more than 250,000 sign a petition to scrap them.

Scott Morrison and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian speak to the media on Sunday. Picture: AAP

Scott Morrison has called for Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks to go ahead as planned, labelling it a message of optimism and positivity to the world.

It comes despite reports the annual display could be cancelled if catastrophic weather conditions are declared.

The City of Sydney’s famous celebrations are expected to attract one million people to the harbour foreshore and generate $130 million for the NSW economy. Temperatures around the state are expected to peak on Tuesday, with forecasts of more than 40C across western Sydney and in regional NSW.

Some communities have decided to cancel or postpone their fireworks displays, including Armidale in the state’s northern tablelands and Huskisson on the state’s South Coast.

More than a quarter of a million people signed a petition calling for the fireworks to be scrapped, with the funding to be redirected to NSW drought and bushfire relief.

However, the City of Sydney says its fireworks are going ahead as planned.

“They look at our vibrancy, they look at our passion, they look at our success. And they all think to themselves, what an amazing place and they are right,” the Prime Minister said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she appreciated that people were anxious at this time, but stressed the importance of people being resilient and supporting communities in need.

“I think it’s important to send a message that as long as it’s safe to do so, we should keep doing what we do normally.”

Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore. Picture: Richard Dobson

NSW’s RFS Commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, said he is working closely with the Bureau of Meteorology to monitor weather conditions ahead of Tuesday.

“The City of Sydney works closely with NSW government agencies such as the Department of Premier and Cabinet, NSW Health, NSW Police and Fire and Rescue NSW in the lead-up to the event,” a City of Sydney spokesman said in a statement on Sunday.

“If a total fire ban is declared, we will continue to liaise with NSW Government agencies and the NSW Rural Fire Service to determine the safest way to proceed with the event.” RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said he “can’t foresee the Sydney New Year’s Eve efforts being compromised by a total fire ban”.

The RFS will be working with the Bureau of Meteorology closer to Tuesday, however a southerly change is expected to impact upon the Sydney basin about 7pm and move through the region over several hours, Mr Fitzsimmons said. This will mean hot temperatures and dry, windy conditions will improve, “but we’re obviously very mindful of the volatility” of the wind, he told reporters in Sydney on Sunday.

“I don’t remember a time when we’ve had total fire bans in place in the greater Sydney region where we haven’t been able to accommodate the risk elements for conducting the New Year’s Eve fireworks in the in the Sydney Harbour area particularly,” he said.

“If there are areas, subject to the prevailing winds ... where materials might drop, we just heighten our level of coverage to ensure a safe and effective New Year’s Eve function.”

Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks that brought in 2019. Picture: Getty Images

The council says most of the budget had already been spent and cancelling would be of little practical benefit to affected communities.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he acknowledged the anxiety around the issue but said in the midst of challenges faced by the country, “subject to the safety considerations, I can think of no better time to express to the world just how optimistic and positive we are.” “I tell you what I really want to acknowledge and that’s how wonderful a country Australia is and on New Year’s Eve that’s what we tell the world with that amazing display about our optimism and our vibrancy,” Mr Morrison told reporters.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said if the RFS and experts say it’s safe for fireworks to go ahead, then they should.

“Sydney is one of the first cities in the world that welcomes in the new year and if it’s safe to do so, we should continue to do it as we’ve done every other year.” Other events across NSW could have higher risk and the RFS is unlikely to give exemptions for backyard permits for fireworks in homes or local parks, Mr Fitzsimmons said.

Additional reporting: AAP