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Preparations for the New Year celebrations began 15 months ago and a significant budget has been spent on ensuring security and safety for the events. The City of Sydney is concerned that the cancellation of the event will have a major impact on the Sydney service industry. In addition, it will affect hundreds of thousands of domestic and international tourists who plan to celebrate New Year's Eve in the city. The City of Sydney has pledged to donate more than $600,000 to support the area affected by the bushfires.
Sydney Harbour Fireworks are held every year on New Year's Eve.
More than 250,000 people have signed an online petition calling on Sydney to divert $4.5 million in funds earmarked for New Year's Eve fireworks to bushfire and drought relief, and to firefighters, farmers and animal shelters. They also fear the fireworks will be harmful to residents because "there's already enough smoke in the air." All other areas of New South Wales have also announced the cancellation of New Year's Eve fireworks.
On the night of December 31, the temperature is forecast to reach 35oC in Sydney. The first family-friendly fireworks display will start at 9 p.m. on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, while the main fireworks display will take place at midnight at the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and from barges in the harbour area. This is always considered the most beautiful and brilliant fireworks display in the New Year's celebrations around the world. Therefore, the Sydney government said that although it deeply sympathizes with the victims of the bushfires, it cannot cancel the fireworks display on the night of December 31 in this city.
Bushfires have raged in New South Wales in recent months.
New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, is one of the worst hit by the bushfires, with hundreds of blazes burning in recent months. The disaster has killed nine people and destroyed more than 1,000 homes.
