Sydney has welcomed 2020 with a symphony of light, colour and Australian sound, as it once again hosted the world’s best New Year’s Eve party and raised more than $2 million for bushfire relief.
Crowds watching around the harbour and across the world witnessed a stunning fireworks and light show, including the brightest lighting beam in the southern hemisphere for the first time.
The midnight fireworks were synchronised to an all-Aussie soundtrack featuring the likes of Tina Arena, Crowded House, Fisher and Peking Duk.
A Calling Country ceremony shared stories from the Gadigal people, one of the world’s oldest living cultures.
Those watching around the harbour or the ABC broadcast were reminded to donate to the Red Cross disaster relief and recovery fund in response to the bushfires, with a donation link projected onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons throughout the night.
As of this morning, the total amount raised online has exceeded $2 million, with donations continuing to roll in. Many sites around the harbour also took cash donations on the night.
Projections also featured the official New Year’s Eve charity partner, the Refugee Council of Australia, reminding people to make 2020 a year of welcome to refugees.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore thanked the many staff from the City of Sydney, NSW Police, emergency services and government agencies for making the event happen.
“Sydney New Year’s Eve is the result of an enormous collaboration project between the City of Sydney and NSW Government agencies, and I’d like to thank everyone for making this event such a success,” the Lord Mayor said.
“I’d particularly like to praise the 250 volunteers who gave up their time to be ambassadors for our city, helping the hundreds of thousands of people visiting Sydney for last night’s event.”
The Lord Mayor said those suffering from the impacts of the bushfires were front of mind through the New Year’s Eve event.
“Reminders to donate to the bushfire appeal and tributes to our brave firefighters were projected onto the Harbour Bridge pylons and broadcast throughout the ABC’s live event coverage,” the Lord Mayor said.
“The City of Sydney previously donated $620,000 to bushfire and drought relief, and I want to thank everyone who joined us in making a donation via the ABC broadcast, the City’s social media channels or because they saw the link on the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons.”
Sydney’s celebrations required an enormous clean-up operation to get the City back to normal by early morning on New Year’s Day.
Staff worked through the night collecting around 45 tonnes of waste.
Public recycling bins were trialled on New Year’s Eve for the first time at Herald Square, Wynyard Station and Sydney Town Hall.
Staff also used captured rainwater from a City of Sydney depot to clean the streets, as well as new cleaning techniques, resulting in a more efficient use of water.
Education programs with food vendors in City of Sydney parks saw a greater take up of compostable plates and cutlery. Visitors were also encouraged to place their food scraps in compostable bins.
“To the cleansing and waste staff who worked tirelessly through the night, thank you for ensuring our city sparkles again so quickly,” the Lord Mayor said.
New Year’s Eve 2019 was also the greenest event to date, with City sites and operations using 100 per cent accredited GreenPower.
The City purchased GreenPower certificates to the equivalent of our energy use. These covered 10 sites across the city, including Bicentennial and Pirrama parks and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The certificates will support the production of renewable energy at Sapphire Wind Farm in northern NSW.
Sydney showed the world why it’s the New Year’s Eve capital with a sparkling fireworks and lighting show to ring in 2020.
The most choreographed New Year’s Eve show to date saw more than 100,000 fireworks set off at 9pm and midnight to create a ‘pyrotechnicolour’ extravaganza.
The midnight fireworks were synchronised to an all-Aussie soundtrack featuring songs from Tina Arena, Crowded House, Peking Duk, Sia, Fisher and more.
Sydney NYE2019 Midnight Fireworks Opening Sequence From Mrs Macquarie’s Point Photograph: City of Sydney/Daniel Tran
At 9pm and midnight, a diamond sparkle of lighting beams came together to form the unity beam, representing the people of Australia and the world coming together as one.
The beam shone between 16 billion to 20 billion candela, making it the brightest lighting beam in the southern hemisphere.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said there was no better way to welcome a new year than celebrating in Sydney.
“2020 has arrived and we’ve welcomed the new decade with a fireworks and lighting show unlike anything we’ve seen before,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Those watching saw the best of Sydney’s creative talents putting on a show that has become one of the biggest public events in the world.
“New Year’s Eve is about giving hope and happiness to the world and we’ve used the event to make a positive difference.
“Through our official charity partner, the Refugee Council, we showed the world that Sydney is a friendly place by declaring 2020 the year of welcome.
“We also used the event to promote a fundraiser for the Red Cross disaster relief and recovery fund in response to the devastating bushfires that have ravaged much of the country.
“These donations support Red Cross volunteers on the frontline supporting communities in the wake of bushfire disasters.
“Whether you were watching around the harbour, at home, or around the world, I’d like to wish you a safe and happy 2020.”
More than 100,000 individual pyrotechnic effects were fired from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and seven barges around the harbour.
New Year’s Eve 2019 was also the greenest event to date, with City sites and operations using 100 per cent accredited GreenPower.
The City purchased GreenPower certificates to the equivalent of our energy use. These covered 10 sites across the city, including Bicentennial and Pirrama parks and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The certificates will support the production of renewable energy at Sapphire Wind Farm in northern NSW.
Sydney NYE2019 Midnight Fireworks Opening Sequence From Mrs Macquarie’s Point Photograph: City of Sydney
We experienced some technical issues involving online donations on New Year’s Eve when our website had high volumes of traffic.
A small number of people advised us of issues, including that they received incorrect tax receipts after donating.
We are very sorry this incident occurred. We believe this only relates to some people who made online donations during our New Year’s Eve donation drive. We have taken steps to ensure this is no longer happening, while we continue to understand why it happened.
If you believe you have received an incorrect tax receipt after making a donation or experienced any other issue whilst donating to Australian Red Cross during New Year’s Eve, please contact our customer care team on email at contactus@redcross.org.au or by phone at 1800-RED-CROSS (733 276).
People have generously donated to our Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund during and since the ABC’s New Year’s Eve donation drive and we are extremely grateful for this support and all of the beautiful messages of support we have been receiving.
THIS POST WILL NO LONGER BE UPDATED UNLESS IT AFFECTS THE FIREWORKS
We don’t normally cover the weather forecast in the week prior to NYE as the weather is usually just perfect on the day. However, the lead-up to this NYE has been anything but normal – tragic bushfires, hazardous air quality & days of poor visibility. Compare all forecasts & current/imminent conditions with historical NYE weather data at the bottom of this page.
Weather Warnings
Marine Wind Warning Summary
IDN20400
Marine Wind Warning Summary for New South Wales
Issued at 4:15 pm EDT on Tuesday 31 December 2019
for the period until midnight EDT Wednesday 1 January 2020.
No further warnings will be issued for this event, but the situation will continue to be monitored and further warnings issued if necessary.
Current Forecast
As of 4:20pm 31 December
Minimum Temperature: 22 degrees Celsius
Maximum Temperature: 34 degrees Celsius
General: Smoke haze. Gusty cool change.
Possible Rainfall: N/A
Chance Of Any Rain: 20%
Fire Danger: Severe (67%)
Sun Protection: Recommended from 9:20 am to 4:30 pm
Ultra Violet Index: 9 [Very High]
Sydney Area Forecast:
Smoke haze, mainly in the west. Slight (20%) chance of a shower or thunderstorm in the evening. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h, tending northeasterly 25 to 40 km/h along the coast. A cool and gusty southerly change moving through most suburbs between about 5pm and 7pm, reaching 30 to 50 km/h near the coast.
Sydney Area Warnings:
A POOR Air Quality Forecast alert issued by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) due to forecast elevated particle and ozone levels in Sydney for today (Tuesday).
Air Quality
You can sign up to an account to get air quality alerts via e-mail or SMS here.
This information is also available by calling the NSW Environment Line:
131 555 (local call cost throughout NSW)
(02) 9995 5555 (if calling from outside NSW).
Air quality index data is based on ‘Sydney East’ region data.
Current Air Quality Index (as of 3pm):141 (Poor)
NYE Forecasted Air Quality Index: POOR (100 to 149) due to OZONE + PARTICLES
Disclaimer: The data used in the forecast above have undergone only preliminary quality assurance checks. These data may require modification during final stages of validation as a result of calibration changes, power failures, instrument failures etc.
Air quality 10 times worse than normal (450-850 index) is deemed ok to fire the fireworks based on the NYE2001 precedent.
Poor Air Quality
Sensitive groups include:
people with lung disease or heart disease
children
older adults
pregnant women.
Sensitive groups should reduce or reschedule strenuous outdoor activities.
People with heart or lung disease should reduce exercising outdoors.
Other adults are not likely to be affected when the AQI is in this range.
Tips
If you’re sensitive to smoke or have a pre-existing condition that could be made worse, please delay coming to the event early
If you suffer from asthma, other respiratory conditions such as chronic bronchitis (also called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD), or cardiovascular disease, make sure you have your reliever medicine handy.
Don’t smoke indoors
Take public transport
Regularly ventilate your home to remove indoor pollutants and build up of moisture. Turn on exhaust fans, particularly when bathing, showering, cooking, doing laundry and drying clothes.
Don’t use wood-fired stoves and wood-burning heaters (fire places) in your home if possible. If you do use a wood-burning heater, follow the recommendations on this factsheet on wood-burning heaters to minimise air pollution
Don’t use unflued gas heaters if possible. If you do use an unflued gas heater, follow the recommendations on this factsheet on unflued gas heaters
Install a kitchen exhaust fan above your gas cook top if possible
Consider limiting burning candles and incense
Don’t use ozone generators for managing indoor air pollution or odour problems. Read this factsheet on ozone generators.
Visibility
This is the crucial data point as it will give an indication of how well you can see the fireworks. The most relevant monitoring station (Cook & Phillip Park) is new so there is no comparison to previous data.
Visibility is a good indicator for smoke. While visibility is also affected by dust, the instrument is more sensitive to smoke.
Current Visibility (as of 3pm): 80 (Fair)
Fire Danger
Current Fire Danger Rating: Severe (67%)
Tomorrow’s Fire Danger Rating: Very High (50%)
Fire Weather Warnings: Yes (see top of page)
Total Fire Ban?: Yes before Midnight only
Sydney New Year’s Eve 2019 (the event not it’s spectators) has been exempted from the total fire ban before Midnight.
If you are watching from a National Park vantage point, you should pay extra attention to this section.
Wind
Current Wind Speed (as of 4:50pm): 33km/h
Very fast winds are normally the only thing that can cancel or postpone the fireworks on the night. However, the lead-up to this NYE has been anything but normal in Australia with the tragic bushfires being experienced for nearly 5 months non-stop.
90km/h winds on NYE2002 caused the cancellation of the 9pm Family Fireworks.
If there are very fast winds, it is expected:
Any affected display would be ‘downgraded’. That is, higher & larger pyrotechnics would be ‘deleted’ from the display’s programming. If no pyrotechnics are safe to fire, the below events are expected to happen. Any delay could allow an ‘upgrade’ back to original programming.
9pm Family Fireworks will be postponed to a time no later than 10:30pm.
If still very windy at 10:30pm, the 9pm Family Fireworks would be postponed to Australia Day.
If very windy at Midnight, the fireworks would not be held on the night. Since a Midnight Fireworks has never been cancelled on the night, this would be unprecedented. There is a slight chance they too can be postponed to Australia Day.
Calling Country would still be held but without pyrotechnics
For International visitors information, Australia Day is currently January 26.
The ideal wind is one not too fast to risk safety but fast enough to blow away the pyrotechnics’ smoke quickly.
The wind forecast currently looks worrying. A Marine Strong Wind Warning has been issued for Sydney Harbour with southerly winds of 20 to 30 knots (37 to 55km/h) forecasted for the evening. A slight (20%) chance of a thunderstorm in the evening is also forecast. These storms, if severe, could feature 90km/h+ winds, which would be enough to cancel the fireworks. A warning will be issued if such winds arise. However, if a storm does not arise or does but passes before the fireworks, it is expected the fireworks will go ahead unless it arrives mid-display. At this stage, the 9pm Family Fireworks look like they may be impacted by a storm – the likelihood is there around 9pm.
Whilst it is obviously not ideal to watch the fireworks with the wind hitting your face, it is difficult to move vantage points on this night at this particular event as that could mean sacrificing an iconic view. Choose your vantage point wisely (if you haven’t paid for one yet).
Pyrotechnic smoke affected areas based on this forecast include:
SydneyNYE2019 Predicted Pyrotechnic Smoke Path (based on 31 December 4:20pm Sydney area wind forecast) Satellite Image: Google Maps
Apologies:The listings/maps of the 24/12/2019, 25/12/2019 & 26/12/2019 were incorrect. The smoke should be drawn going the opposite direction and the vantage points listed should have been on the opposite side of the Harbour.
Any pyrotechnic smoke should leave after less than half a minute.
Rain
Prepare for rain in any case. Currently, there is a forecast of a slight (20%) chance of any rain, a shower or a thunderstorm in the evening. Last year, sudden thunderstorms appeared around 6pm giving the crowd an unexpected drenching. However, rain will not cancel the fireworks. In fact, despite misconceptions, rain makes fireworks look better. However, as you can read above, if damaging winds feature in a severe thunderstorm, a warning will be issued and the damaging winds could cancel the 9pm Family Fireworks.
UltraViolet/Sunburn Protection
Ultra Violet Index: 9 [Very High]
Sun Protection: Recommended from 9:20 am to 4:30 pm
It is therefore advised during those times to:
Slipon sun-protective clothing
Slopon SPF30+ sunscreen every 2 hours
Slap on a broad-brimmed hat
Seek shade
Slide on wrap-around sunglasses
Current Temperature (as of 4:50pm): 32.4 Degrees Celsius
Historical Average Weather Data
Minimum Temperature: 20 degrees Celsius
Maximum Temperature: 29 degrees Celsius
Rainfall: 1mm
Pan Evaporation: 8mm
Sunshine Hours: 9
Maximum Wind Speed: 41 kilometres per hour
Air Quality Index: 44-79 (Good/Fair)
Fire Danger Rating: Low-Moderate/High (25%)
Sun Protection Recommendation Times: 8:47am to 5:17pm
Disclaimer: Sydney Spectaculars takes no responsibility for your final choice of vantage point nor whether the event goes ahead. These are only forecasts based on official expert sources. The choice of vantage point is yours alone & the event is run at the discretion of the City Of Sydney. The weather could change suddenly on the day & during the night of the event. It is a forecast after all.
Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has today stated he believed it is “problematic” that Sydney New Year’s Eve 2019 is being held while bushfires are burning around the country and at an escalating rate today.
For our international readers, Anthony Albanese is a member of the Labor Party. He is a Sydneysider located near some official Sydney NYE vantage points & events.
Today was forecasted to have severe (67%) fire danger in Sydney while other places in Australia are having worse levels of fire danger. A total fire ban has been enforced until Midnight in Sydney. Labor Party seats on a Federal level (down in south-eastern New South Wales) have seen the worst bushfire conditions today.
Sydney New Year’s Eve 2019 has an exemption to the total fire ban for it’s fireworks (except Midnight). Whilst the Midnight Fireworks are not yet affected by a total fire ban, there are still on for now with any total fire ban to be issued this afternoon.
The air quality has plummetted again in Sydney today. It is definitely worse than usual and is the worst air quality since NYE2001, when the event was in a similar situation due to the Black Christmas fires.
The ABC and City of Sydney have partnered with the Australian Red Cross this New Year’s Eve on a joint appeal for disaster relief and recovery, which will help support communities affected by bushfires across the country.
ABC hosts Zan Rowe and Charlie Pickering will drive the call for donations as they host our Party of the Decades concert, live from the Sydney Opera House, starring some of Australia’s top performers. Soulful singer-songwriter Marlon Williams, the Cruel Sea’s Tex Perkins, Augie March guitarist singer-songwriter Glenn Richards, American rapper Aloe Blacc, rock chick Natalie Foster, jazz bassist Steve Kilby and legendary musician Russell “The Real Thing” Morris are all on board to welcome in the new year.
Funds raised on the night will help the Red Cross continue its essential disaster relief and recovery work, giving people the support they need in emergencies, now and into the future. The Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund includes recovery programs, practical support and emergency grants for communities affected by the ongoing bushfires.
Donations will help the Red Cross:
Train staff and volunteers to be ready to respond as soon as a disaster happens;
Teach and support communities in disaster-prone regions to better prepare for disasters;
Help affected communities to recover from emergencies – in outback towns, metropolitan cities or small Pacific islands;
Train and send specialist aid workers to assist local Red Cross volunteers and staff in countries affected by major disasters; and
Maintain stocks of critical disaster response equipment.
Donations can be made via the Australian Red Cross:
The NYE live concert will be broadcast across Australia via ABC TV, iview and ABC Radio and the world via ABC Australia and ABC Online.
The Party of the Decades concert will also feature Kate Miller-Heidke, Phil Jamieson, Vika and Linda Bull, Angie Hart, Mojo Juju, Adrian Eagle and Casey Donovan, as they perform memorable songs from recent decades. From the rock ‘n’ roll classics of the 60s, to the high tempo disco hits of the 70s and present-day classics – the hits will keep coming.
Before they rock the main stage from 9.30pm, families can enjoy the New Year’s Eve House Party with music, games and dancing. Hosted by Susie Youssef and Nazeem Hussain and featuring performances by Baker Boy, Regurgitator and Shonen Knife, this New Year’s Eve show will have everything you need to get the party started from the comfort of your own home. Expect celebrity appearances, some of your favourite ABC KIDS and ABC ME stars and a countdown that will travel the country before the fireworks at 9pm.
The ABC’s NYE schedule:
8.30pm New Year’s Eve House Party
9.00pm Family Fireworks
9.08pm Calling Country
9.30pm Party of the Decades and the drive to donate to Red Cross.
12.00am Midnight Fireworks
Media Release: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Sydney’s reputation as the world’s New Year’s Eve capital will be underlined tonight with a stunning display of fireworks, lighting, pylon projections and a celebration of the world’s oldest living culture.
The Sydney sky will light up with 100,000 fireworks and the brightest beam in the southern hemisphere shooting up from the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said Sydney New Year’s Eve is a symbol of hope and happiness for Australians and those watching around the world.
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The Lord Mayor has urged those watching around the harbour or the ABC broadcast at home to dig deep and donate to support those impacted by the bushfires.
“Sydney New Year’s Eve brings people together from around the world. This year we want to channel that positive energy to help Australian communities who have been hit hard by the bushfires,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
“In response to the devastating bushfires, we decided to harness the enormous power of the event to raise money for the Australian Red Cross disaster recovery and relief fund. This is in addition to the $300,000 we donated to the Red Cross, $300,000 to the Country Women’s Association and $20,000 to Wires.
“People viewing around the Harbour will see a donation link projected onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons throughout the night. Donation links will also be promoted throughout the ABC broadcast.”
2019 New Year’s Eve will be the most choreographed show to date, with fireworks, lighting effects, pylon projections and music all synchronised to create a stunning spectacle.
A symbolic message stick will be presented to Lord Mayor Clover Moore to accept on behalf of Sydney as a gift from the Gadigal people.
The age old Aboriginal custom will be the focal point of this year’s Calling Country ceremony, which welcomes Sydney and the world to Gadigal land.
The Calling Country ceremony will see the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons light up with projections depicting summer time stories in Sydney. The ceremony will feature live music and dance performances.
Earlier in the evening, a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony will take place on Sydney Harbour, from Tribal Warrior Association vessels.
“This event is about showing the world what Sydney is all about. It’s a celebration of our best creative talents and one of the world’s oldest living cultures,” the Lord Mayor said.
The Refugee Council of Australia is the official charity partner of 2019 Sydney New Year’s Eve. They’re urging Australians to make a resolution that counts and sign up to make 2020 the Year of Welcome.
By signing up, you are joining a movement of thousands of people around Australia welcoming refugees and people who come to Australia seeking protection. To sign up, visit: yearofwelcome.org
The City of Sydney New Year’s Eve event times:
7pm Fire tug presents its water display on Sydney Harbour
7.30pm Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony on Sydney
Harbour by the Tribal Warrior Association
8pm Air display above Sydney Harbour by flying ace Matt Hall and
Sydney Harbour Bridge pylon projections start
8.30pm Sydney Harbour Bridge lighting effects start
9pm Family fireworks (8 minutes) includes the ABC Design Your Own Firework competition firework display
9.08pm Calling Country segment honouring Australia’s Indigenous heritage
9.15pm Harbour of Light parade
12am Midnight fireworks (12 minutes)
2am Sydney Harbour Bridge pylon projection and lighting effects end.
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service has issued a total fire ban exemption for Sydney New Year’s Eve 2019.
However, this does not yet officially include the Midnight Fireworks which will be determined tomorrow afternoon. However, as of publication, they are on.
Please remember though the total fire ban exemption can be withdrawn at any time.
A press conference will be held tomorrow morning at 10am by Sydney NYE2019 organisers, which will include a preview of tomorrow night’s events.
The New South Wales Deputy Premier, John Barilaro, in a tweet this morning called for the cancellation of Sydney New Year’s Eve 2019:
The tweet read:
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.
For our international readers, John Barilaro is a member of The Nationals political party, who mostly represent regional country/rural electorates. Most of the bushfires have taken place in these electorates. He is a member of the Coalition, which is The Nationals & the Liberals (Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s political party) together. This means the Coalition & therefore, the New South Wales Government, is split on the issue.
The Australian understands he is currently in London on holiday and sent the tweet from abroad.
In response to Mr Barilaro’s tweet, a spokesperson from the City of Sydney said to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation News that it had nothing to add beyond previous statements.
Although Tanya Goldberg, the Sydney NYE2019 Head Of Audience, told the Today morning breakfast television show this morning cancelling the fireworks would not benefit victims of the bushfires:
We know that cancelling the fireworks will have zero practical benefit for those fire-ravaged communities
The one thing that will help those communities is to go ahead with the event and leverage the power of it to drive people to donate, to demonstrate their generosity by going to the Australian Red Cross disaster relief and recovery fund
They can go to nye.Sydney/donate and we will be promoting that in the lead up, and that I can do
When asked if there would be any kind of tribute to the tireless efforts of volunteer fireys during the show, Ms Goldberg said:
No
There will not be an overt tribute to the firefighters – (creative) plans were put in place months and months and months ago but we are doing everything to throw our support behind them
However, whilst we haven’t confirmed it, at Sydney NYE2014 there were news reports of a tribute to the victims of the Sydney siege, which occurred about 2 weeks prior to the event.
The RFS are expected to give Sydney Harbour fireworks the go ahead this afternoon. Do you agree with this decision? #9Todaypic.twitter.com/O3p0ca9ywc
Shane Fitzsimmons, commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service, said today:
We will be weighing up the risks this afternoon with more details on the forecast. I don’t envisage a cancellation of the fireworks on account of the total fire bans
Any perceived risk will be remediated
He also said he’s “confident, unless something untoward comes out of the forecast”, that the event will go ahead and that the New South Wales Rural Fire Service is working with all parties to finalise exemptions on a possible total fire ban for the City Of Sydney.
This afternoon, the fire danger rating forecast will be released. This will mostly determine whether the 9pm Family Fireworks & Calling Country pyrotechnics would go ahead. It is expected to be cancelled if a ‘catastophic’ fire danger rating is forecast. The Midnight Fireworks won’t be determined until the afternoon of NYE. However, pressure to cancel would be increased if the 9pm Family Fireworks are already forecast to be held in ‘catastrophic’ conditions.
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