Sydney New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest annual celebrations in the world, attracting around over 1 million spectators to the Sydney Harbour foreshore & a global audience of more than 1 billion.
2019 will be the biggest Sydney Harbour Bridge display ever, with the famous ‘coathanger’ arch illuminated with 1,100 extra firework special lighting effects.
Sydney New Year’s Eve is Australia’s biggest public event, featuring one of the largest and most technologically advanced fireworks displays in the world.Research by Destination NSW found the event contributes $133 million to the local economy.
It takes 15 months and more than 10,000 hours for over 1,000 accredited personnel and around 300 volunteers to plan and bring the celebrations to life.
The fireworks displays are designed by Sydney’s Foti International Fireworks. NYE19 marks the 23rd consecutive year that Foti International has created the fireworks show for the City of Sydney.
Over 5,000 hours go into preparing Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks displays
In 2019, the fireworks lighting up Sydney Harbour will include:
More than 8 tonnes of fireworks
40,000 shooting ground based effects including comets, mines and crossettes
Over 13,000 shells
More than 100,000 individual pyrotechnic effects.
18 shipping containers of equipment, weighing 120 tonnes, are needed for the night’s fireworks displays.
6,000 fireworks cues will shoot from 178 firing locations on the Sydney Harbour Bridge with another 18,000 cues from the fireworks barges
This will be the 7th year that Foti Fireworks have used the Sydney Opera House as a firing location. There will be 850 fireworks set off from the sails of the Sydney Opera House.
The 9pm family fireworks will launch from 5 fireworks barges and Sydney Harbour Bridge. The midnight fireworks will launch from 7 barges on the harbour, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney OperaHouse.
A feature of the 9pm display is the winning entry from the ABC’s Design Your Own Firework competition, chosen in mid August. This year’s winner is Patrick from South Australia, aged 9.
The fireworks will be digitally launched by 18 computers, which will also ensure the fireworks are synchronised to the music soundtrack. More than 60 kilometres of wire and cables link the launch computers.
Design theme and effects for 2019
A ‘pyrotechnicolour’ extravaganza with:
Colour changing stars
Stained glass designed shells
Glittering willow effects.
850 pyrotechnic effects off 4 sails of the Sydney Opera House.
‘Pyrograms’ producing 2D shapes and designs by combining comets & digital technology.
‘Pyro mine letters’ with the New Year’s Eve countdown & the lettering Sydney “S Y D N E Y”.
The spontaneous energy of Sydney and its people inspires the event artwork. Sydney New Year’s Eve is vibrant, raw and energetic. The spirit of the city is shown in the bright, colourful, flexible and optimistic artwork by globally awarded, Sydney studio Garbett Design.
From 5pm to 9.15pm, the Lord Mayor’s Picnic is a circus themed, invitation only event at the Royal Botanic Garden for 1,000 children with additional needs and their support persons and families to celebrate New Year’s Eve and view the family fireworks.
Around 7pm a Port Authority of NSW fire tug blasts tonnes of water into the skies,with the spray creating a striking image against the setting sun until 7.30pm.
At 7.30pm a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony starts on the harbour with Tribal Warrior Association vessels Tribal Warrior and Mari Nawi. An Elder from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council welcomes spectators around Sydney Harbour.
There are air displays at 8pm above Sydney harbour with one aircraft.
The Calling Country segment starts at 9.08pm and features a live performance on the ABC stage at the Sydney Opera House northern forecourt.A story created by creative consultant Rhoda Roberts unfolds, with animated video imagery projected onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge north and south pylons, in full to the east and in smaller format to the west.
Video projections by Artists in Motion brightens the eastern faces of the north and south pylons on the Sydney Harbour Bridge from sunset and throughout the night.
The pylons are also a source of information on the night, with projected community service announcements encouraging goodwill and practical safety.
Lighting effects by lighting designer Ziggy Ziegler feature on the Sydney Harbour Bridge from sunset throughout the night.
At 9pm the family fireworks starts for an 8-minute bonanza of colour and light.
A feature of the 9pm display is the winning entry from the ABC’s Design Your Own Firework competition, chosen in mid-August. This year’s winner is Patrick from South Australia, aged 9.
This year the 9pm family fireworks are synchronised to a music track created by local DJ/Producer Dan Murphy that features international hits from the last 12 months for all ages.
Following the 9pm family fireworks, the captivating Harbour of Light Parade takes place. Vessels adorned in colour changing light glide across Sydney Harbour.
The midnight fireworks last for a magical 12 minutes.
This year the midnight fireworks is synchronised to a music track created by local DJ/Producer Dan Murphy that features all Australian artists.
A live broadcast of the event begins at 8.35pm, available on ABC and iview.
ABC Radio broadcasts a live audio description of the 9pm family fireworks, Calling Country, Harbour of Light Parade and the midnight fireworks. Tune in through your local ABC Radio station, via free-to-air TV channel 25, via the ABC Listen app, on the ABC website or through 2RPH.
Sydney New Year’s Eve radio broadcaster KIIS 1065 broadcasts the exclusive soundtrack at 9pm and midnight.
A symbolic message stick will be presented to Lord Mayor Clover Moore to accept on behalf of Sydney this New Year’s Eve 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 a smoking ceremony as well as musical and dance performances.
Creative Consultant Rhoda Roberts AO said message sticks were an ancient Aboriginal custom that enabled safe passage across boundaries.
“For New Year’s Eve,the message stick is a gift to the people, acknowledging Sydney for recognising the lands and the First Peoples of the city,” Ms Roberts said.
“The Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council has regenerated this ancient practice, paying homage to the old ways of crossing territories and communication. The gifting is a symbolic gesture that enables the continuous communication with the city.”
Ms Roberts has worked closely with Artists in Motion to develop the stunning Sydney Harbour Bridge pylon projections, which tell the stories of the hot and dry January season.
“This year we look at the depth and wisdom of reading country, listening to the movement of the six seasons and honouring the water that gives us life,” Ms Roberts said.
“Our story focuses on the season of January and the estuaries that have always flowed and connected the clans to the deep water.
‘Calling Country’ Whale Image: City Of Sydney
“Our Calling Country features the song of the whale as we call the clans. The call and response is heard as the smoking commences and our warrior arrives carrying the message stick as the women begin the cleansing.
“And like the old ways, we still gather to connect on the harbour, to feast, celebrate the abundance, to laugh, think and play.
“As our nations join forces to help those who are suffering from drought and fire, we are reminded of the precious gift we have inherited and the stewardship we continue as the First Nations People of country.”
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said including the ceremony as part of proceedings that are watched by a billion people around the world reflects the City’s commitment to celebrating the culture of the world’s oldest civilisation.
“The Calling Country ceremony prominently and proudly acknowledges our First Nations People as custodians of the land on which we celebrate New Year’s Eve,” the Lord Mayor said.
“It is an honour to accept a message stick on behalf of Sydney and help share Indigenous heritage and culture with the world.
“This year’s official charity partner is the Refugee Council of Australia, so commencing New Year’s Eve celebrations with a message of ‘welcome’ is particularly apt.”
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.
Sydney will welcome a new decade with a symphony of light, colour and Australian sounds as part of the world’s best New Year’s Eve party.
The sky above Sydney Harbour will be illuminated by a stunning pyrotechnic display and an attempt to create the brightest lighting beam in the southern hemisphere for the first time.
A Calling Country ceremony will welcome the world to Gadigal land, as Lord Mayor Clover Moore is presented with a symbolic message stick to accept on behalf of Sydney residents and visitors.
NYE19 launch. Image Katherine Griffiths, City of Sydney
The Lord Mayor said NYE 2019 would be the most choreographed show to date, with fireworks, lighting and pylon projections set to an all-Aussie midnight soundtrack for the first time.
“The Sydney New Year’s Eve show is our gift to the world. It’s about saying welcome to Sydney and welcome to 2020 – to locals, visitors, migrants, refugees and more than one billion viewers across the globe.
“Our creative talents in pyrotechnics, lighting and music have come together to create a spectacle that reflects what our beautiful city is all about.
“The Sydney Harbour Bridge will light up to create the brightest beam in the southern hemisphere, while our world-famous fireworks ring in the new year.
“Our New Year’s Eve celebrations are about showing the world what a welcoming place Sydney is and celebrating the culture of the Gadigal people, the original custodians of our land.
“Sydney’s world renowned New Year’s Eve fireworks have become a major tourist attraction and each year, they generate more than $130 million for the NSW economy.”
Fireworks director Fortunato Foti has worked on every New Year’s Eve since 1997 and relishes the challenge of finding innovative ways to ring in the new year.
“To celebrate the start of 2020, the audience will be treated to a ‘pyrotechnicolour’ extravaganza with more than 100,000 pyrotechnic effects,” Mr Foti said.
“These include colour changing stars, stained glass designed shells, glittering willow effects and ‘pyrograms’ producing 2D shapes.
“Pyro mine letters spelling out ‘Sydney’ will fall from the bridge as we countdown to midnight.
“The fireworks will be launched from seven different barges around the harbour, as well as the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.”
Lighting designer Ziggy Ziegler said the attempt to create the brightest beam in the southern hemisphere was a bold, new approach for Sydney New Year’s Eve.
“We’re installing a series of high output, low power light sources on the Harbour Bridge that will link up to create a stunning beam shooting up into the sky,” Mr Ziegler said.
“Our Harbour of Light show is also back, connecting crowds around the harbour with the action through a stunning light show on the water and across the whole eastern face of the bridge.
“The combination of our brilliant lighting with the fireworks and pylon projections will create a stunning spectacle that will dazzle people across the globe.”
The Lord Mayor announced the Refugee Council of Australia as the City of Sydney’s official charity partner for New Year’s Eve, launching 2020 as the year of welcome.
Refugee Council of Australia CEO Paul Power called on Sydneysiders to take one easy, fun action every month in 2020 to welcome people of refugee backgrounds into their community.
“We will be creating a movement of welcome, from the bottom up. On the eve of the new decade, thousands of Australians will send a message to the people who have sought safety in Australia to let them know that we’re delighted they’re here,” Mr Power said.
The Lord Mayor said all of Sydney had been deeply saddened by the tragic impact of the bushfires, and pledged to use New Year’s Eve to help raise money and awareness for those in need.
“Sydney New Year’s Eve unites people from all over the world with a message of hope for the year to come.
“I appreciate the calls people have been making to cancel our New Year’s Eve fireworks in light of the bushfires.
“Rather than do that, we will harness the enormous power of the event to raise more money for the Australian Red Cross’ Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund.
“We encourage all people who visit our city on New Year’s Eve and those watching at home to donate to the Red Cross disaster relief and recovery fund via our online fundraiser.”
The City of Sydney has already donated $620,000 to drought and bushfire relief, and will provide trucks, staff and other in-kind support to assist emergency services with recovery and clean-up efforts.
ABC is excited to join forces with the City of Sydney and the Sydney Opera House to welcome the start of the twenty twenties. With a fantastic concert and fireworks spectacular live from the Boardwalk of the Sydney Opera House, this NYE is set to be the Party of the Decades!
Join us to celebrate the most memorable songs from recent decades. From the rock-n ’roll classics of the 60s, to the high tempo disco hits of the 80s and present day classics – the hits will keep coming.
Hosts Zan Rowe and Charlie Pickering will be joined by some of Australia’s biggest and brightest singers. Songstress Kate Miller-Heidke, vocal inspirations Vika and Linda Bull, Grinspoon’s Phil Jamieson, pop singer Angie Hart, musician Mojo Juju, soulful rap artist Adrian Eagle and the powerhouse that is Casey Donovan, have all signed up to perform.
With even more performers still to be announced, this New Year’s Eve – ABC’s Party of the Decades is one not to be missed! The live concert will be broadcast to Australia via ABC TV, iview, ABC Radio and to the world via ABC Australia and ABC Online.
For your chance to get tickets to join ABC’s star-studded concert and celebrate the new year, apply at the Sydney Opera House website at the link below.
I appreciate the calls people have been making to cancel our New Year’s Eve fireworks and donate those funds too.
With just six weeks till New Year’s Eve, much of the funding for the event has already been spent. But it’s not that simple.
Sydney New Year’s Eve is one of the world’s biggest public events. It attracts more than one million people to the harbour foreshore, is watched by a billion more worldwide, and it injects $130 million into the NSW economy.
Locals, visitors and businesses plan their Sydney New Year’s Eve experience years in advance. It’s an event that unites people from all over the world, with a message of hope for the year to come.
We can’t cancel it, but we can harness the enormous power of the event to raise more money for drought and fire affected communities.
Right now, our staff are considering how to drive donations to relevant charities through our event website, media outreach and on the night. We did this after the Boxing Day Tsunami – quickly mobilising to ensure those reading about, watching or attending the event were reminded to donate to disaster relief.
I believe we have a responsibility to support our regional communities in their time of need. Our cash donations and commitment to using New Year’s Eve to promote further fundraising will provide much-needed financial support and help relieve some of the devastating effects caused by the bushfires and the drought.
It’s expected the bushfire & drought donation appeal & how it will operate will be formally announced at the media launch in early to mid December (most likely early December).
As referred to in her statement, an appeal would be similar to the appeal they did in 2004 for the Indian Ocean Earthquake & Tsunami. That one raised AUS$1.2 million in 3 days with the City Of Sydney starting with a $50,000 donation. Unlike in 2004 though, which was mainly a domestic appeal done by the official NYE charity partner, Oxfam, on the official television broadcast, it’s expected this one would be international due to the Internet broadcasts now occurring and will last not just 3 days but up to a month. It could raise millions of dollars (at least half the cost of the event) if each viewer/consumer/spectator only donated at least $1.
This year’s official charity partner is Refugee Council Of Australia. It is unclear whether Refugee Council Of Australia would receive donations too as they are this year’s official charity partner. However, it’s possible their 3 year contract could be extended for a year to make up for the shift in donation priorities.
If you consider today as the start of the appeal (rather than most likely media launch day), the City Of Sydney have started it with a $620,000 donation.
In 2004, it was current Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s first year in office & she said this of the appeal:
NYE is a time for celebration and reflection and this year we want all those people that get to enjoy the event to have a great night and at the same time think about those less fortunate who are affected by the tsunami tragedy and do what they can by giving generously to the fund
And in the annual Lord Mayor’s NYE Message (since discontinued):
This year our traditional New Year’s Eve celebrations have been overshadowed by the tsunami disaster.
As the full extent of the tragedy has started to emerge in recent days it has shocked and saddened us all.
I know that as a community, and as good neighbours, Australians feel the need to acknowledge the devastation, pay our respects to those who lost their lives, and offer to help in any way we can.
Coming together tonight to mark the passing of the old year and the beginning of the new gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect.
As a community, we can express our condolences for those who lost their lives, homes and loved ones so suddenly and without warning.
We can also reflect on the help that is needed right now and well into the future, and the part we – as a nation, and as individuals – can contribute.
The commencement of the new year will mark the beginning of a new relationship with our Asian neighbours – a new level of engagement, with a shared understanding of our common humanity, and our common frailty.
Founded on a shared compassion and a collective commitment to help those affected by this disaster.
As a country we experience bushfires, droughts and floods. We know that troubled times often bring out the best in people and create close bonds as we pull together to help one another.
As the year 2005 commences it is time to extend the hand of friendship and assist our Asian neighbours in their time of need.
An official New Years Eve fundraising appeal has been set up tonight with Oxfam collection points around the city until 9pm. Television viewers can make a donation by calling 1800 034 034.
Rather than a carefree “happy new year” it may be more appropriate to wish one another a compassionate New Year for 2005.
New Years Eve is traditionally a time when we greet the new year with hope and optimism for the future. Let’s express this tonight by giving generously.
Thank you.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, MP
However, with global warming increasing and worsening bushfires, scenarios like this week for Sydney NYE are to become more likely and frequent.
The possibility of cancellation would increase year after year and given a special appeal has been announced for the 1st time in 13 years suggests it has already escalated.
While the Lord Mayor writes “We can’t cancel it”, it theoretically is still possible. The Midnight Fireworks can be cancelled if the wind is too fast, for example. However, cancellation of anything won’t recover most of the costs to move it to bushfire/drought relief as like she says, it has already been spent. Most of the costs (about 2/3)are not even to do with the fireworks anyway. Also, event management is a stressful occupation and to suddenly cancel an event when it most likely could do more good than bad regarding disasters would annoy event managers who worked 15 months for it.Things would have to be really bad for it to be cancelled and we don’t want that.
Update (02/12/2019): The Australian Red Cross confirmed its partnership to 7NEWS.com.au, with a spokesman saying it was “delighted” to have been chosen by the City of Sydney for the venture.
Whilst Huffington Post Australia made it’s view known (and the potential for future wider media support for a Sydney NYE cancellation) by writing a sensationalised article about 1 tweeter who disliked Sydney NYE being promoted on Twitter in the middle of the bushfire emergency, it seems community sediment is growing for cancellation with a Change.org petition appearing 5 days ago (before Wednesday night’s controversy) but it has since grown to nearly 10,000 signatures. The petition’s statement and title is below:
Giving NYE firework funds to Aussie farmers and those affected by fire
With Australia facing drought and now catastrophic fires, decimating towns as it tears across our country, the thought of spending MILLIONS of dollars on a firework display when it could be used to support and rebuild our country instead is infuriating.
Join me in petitioning that the funds for the 2019/2020 New Years Firework display in Sydney are instead allocated to the Aussie farmers affected by drought and the Aussie citzens affected by the fires.
It’s times like these when we as a nation need to look at our priorities and I believe the new year should be welcomed in in the aussie way; by giving our fellow Australians a helping hand!
X Kayla
Another petition has about 3500 signatures at the time of this article’s initial publication. It said:
Say NO to FIREWORKS NYE 2019 give the money to farmers and firefighters
Linda McCormick started this petition to PM Scott Morrison (PM office AUSTRALIA)
2019 has been a catastrophic year in Australia for Floods and Fires. Give the money we spend on FIREWORKS New Years Eve to farmers and Firefighters and Animal Carers. Save AUSTRALIA’s Wildlife.
5.8 MILLION $$ was spent in Sydney alone for fireworks last year. All states should say NO to FIREWORKS. This may traumatise some people as there is enough smoke in the air.
The event does costs around $6 million.
However, the fireworks, to the best of our knowledge, make up about 1/3 of that cost. It varies between 1 to 2.4 million dollars. Other costs (the other 2/3) would include marketing, lighting, projections, broadcasting, road closures, marine management, logistics etc.
The event also contributes $133 million to the ‘local’ economy.
The 2nd petitioner also added:
Thoughts and Thankyou’s
Linda McCormick
Townsville, Australia
NOV 14, 2019 — Latest thoughts not only stop the fireworks NYE 2019 but 1 min silence at 11.45pm NEW YEARS EVE for all the people around the world who have been effected by catastrophic weather events. To show respect for mankind.
This idea isn’t a bad one. It has been done before in 2004 for the Indian Ocean Earthquake & Tsunami (death toll: 227,898) right before the 10 second countdown to the 9pm Family Fireworks. On an equivalent scale for local bushfires, sadly, it would be have to be worse (approximately 280 deaths) in NSW than the Black Saturday bushfires of Victoria in 2009 (death toll: 176), which has double the death toll of the 2nd worst recorded bushfire in Australian history. We don’t that to happen again. This year’s bushfire season death toll is 6 nationally.
In any case, if you are cancelling the fireworks as well, it would be (no offense) pointless to have a minute’s silence by the Harbour as there is no reason to hold it at 11:45pm at night if there is no one there to acknowledge it (unless everyone is still celebrating NYE, right?). No one will go to the Harbour if there are no fireworks or light shows. They would head to the nightclubs or possibly still on their cruises to celebrate at private rather than public functions (with huge discounts hopefully) unless they are boycotting celebrating NYE out of respect for the firefighters and victims of the bushfires. Holding a minute’s silence in the daytime at a national service not on NYE or New Year’s Day would be more appropriate in such a case.
There are a few other faults with these petitions though.
Firstly, it is addressed to the Prime Minister Of Australia.
The Prime Minister Of Australia is not involved with Sydney NYE. The closest you can get is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the official television and Internet broadcaster and the major sponsor of the event.
However, if they don’t remove their sponsorship to cripple the event, the best the ABC can do in protest is to not broadcast or stream the event.
Secondly, most of the funds are already spent.
Planning begins usually in October the previous year so 13 months ago. The show’s soundtrack has been made, the fireworks programmed. The fireworks are probably being made right now.
Thirdly, it is a City Of Sydney event.
Unless Sydneysiders are definitely wanting to cancel the event, then the event will likely proceed assuming the bushfire conditions aren’t worse than Black Christmas.
However, the NSW Government can overrule them. If NSW wants the event cancelled, the NSW Government could withdraw support & their financial contributions (such as, most notably, not letting Foti International Fireworks use the Sydney Harbour Bridge). It would contravene a memorandum of understanding signed every 5 years with the City Of Sydney but that is not a legally binding contract.
Whilst momentum is building, the key times to watch are the 24 hours after the media launch and shortly before Christmas Day. If bushfire conditions deteriorate, public pressure may be very strong particularly after Wednesday night’s controversial fireworks display & these growing petitions. However, precedent was set in 2001 – the bushfires would have to be worse than Black Christmas for cancellation to be possible. With forecasts also being made for a horror bushfire season, a cancellation is not too far a stretch of the imagination. Outside of the annual threat of strong winds, air quality would be the biggest threat in the event of extreme bushfires.
No one wants this to happen but in regards to fatalities, the death toll would have to be the worst ever for a disaster in Australia – 280+ or (slightly higher than 0.003% of the NSW population) – to go higher than the Sydney NYE precedent set by the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake & Tsunami, which shocked humanity (Death toll there was 0.003% of the human population or 227,898 lives). Sydney NYE went ahead after that devastating international event.
If bushfires are near or on the date of the media launch, given the recent controversies, we’d assume it would be postponed to after the bushfires have been extinguished or burnt out, assuming there is enough time left to do a media launch (and if they are going to do one. We’d assume so as they’ve done it every year).
If every petitioner was from the City Of Sydney local government area (can’t be guaranteed), their anger would be noticeable so 10,000 petitioners is a significant number. It just depends on their location. Outside of the City Of Sydney, the anger currently might not be noticeable. If they are all from the City Of Sydney, it is currently enough to give concern to holding the event.
The best we can hope for right now is for the City Of Sydney to consider the possibility of setting up a bushfire/drought appeal running from the media launch in early to mid December until Midnight on NYE. Donations could be taken throughout the night on the ground, via the ABC, via social media.
The total amount raised could be revealed on the pylons during the Midnight Fireworks too or the Sydney Opera House could be turned into a unique ‘fundraiser thermometer’ with throughout the night the amount being donated continuously updating or a representation of how much towards a target has been achieved (though the latter is riskier in case the target was too ambitious or unexpectedly not many people donated)
However, this idea would conflict with this year’s Sydney NYE charity partner, Refugee Council Of Australia. It could though provide an educational opportunity for the charity partner to emphasise the potential migration of refugees from global warming events such as more frequent and intense bushfires.
An appeal though would be similar to the appeal they did in 2004 for the Indian Ocean Earthquake & Tsunami. That one raised AUS$1.2 million in 3 days with the City Of Sydney starting with a $50,000 donation. Unlike in 2004 though, which was mainly a domestic appeal done by the official NYE charity partner, Oxfam, on the official television broadcast, this one would be international due to the Internet broadcasts now occurring. Even a donation appeal to help koalas in bushfire areas would go great around the world. It could raise millions of dollars (at least half the cost of the event) if each viewer/spectator only donated at least $1.
At the time it was current Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s first year in office, she said this of the appeal:
NYE is a time for celebration and reflection and this year we want all those people that get to enjoy the event to have a great night and at the same time think about those less fortunate who are affected by the tsunami tragedy and do what they can by giving generously to the fund
And in the annual Lord Mayor’s NYE Message (since discontinued):
This year our traditional New Year’s Eve celebrations have been overshadowed by the tsunami disaster.
As the full extent of the tragedy has started to emerge in recent days it has shocked and saddened us all.
I know that as a community, and as good neighbours, Australians feel the need to acknowledge the devastation, pay our respects to those who lost their lives, and offer to help in any way we can.
Coming together tonight to mark the passing of the old year and the beginning of the new gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect.
As a community, we can express our condolences for those who lost their lives, homes and loved ones so suddenly and without warning.
We can also reflect on the help that is needed right now and well into the future, and the part we – as a nation, and as individuals – can contribute.
The commencement of the new year will mark the beginning of a new relationship with our Asian neighbours – a new level of engagement, with a shared understanding of our common humanity, and our common frailty.
Founded on a shared compassion and a collective commitment to help those affected by this disaster.
As a country we experience bushfires, droughts and floods. We know that troubled times often bring out the best in people and create close bonds as we pull together to help one another.
As the year 2005 commences it is time to extend the hand of friendship and assist our Asian neighbours in their time of need.
An official New Years Eve fundraising appeal has been set up tonight with Oxfam collection points around the city until 9pm. Television viewers can make a donation by calling 1800 034 034.
Rather than a carefree “happy new year” it may be more appropriate to wish one another a compassionate New Year for 2005.
New Years Eve is traditionally a time when we greet the new year with hope and optimism for the future. Let’s express this tonight by giving generously.
UPDATE (14/11/2019): The Australian reports Transport for NSW has temporarily banned on-water fireworks while the week-long state of emergency remains in place. Transport for NSW said the granting of licences for on-water fireworks displays will be reviewed again on Monday.
A fireworks display held last night for Daikan, an air conditioning company, on Sydney Harbour has stirred controversy in Sydneysiders due to an exemption given despite a total fire ban in force for Sydney and a state of emergency declared for New South Wales.
The display, 8 minutes in duration and held by Howards Fireworks, was labelled “one of the best fireworks displays of the year” by Twitter user Sydney Fireworks, who follows all Sydney fireworks displays (not just the major ones like us).
Worse of all (no offense Sydney Fireworks), it coincidentally seems to be the most praised non-Spectacular fireworks display on Sydney Harbour that Sydney Fireworks has ever reviewed.
9 News reports the display was booked by Daikin, an air conditioning company. Ironically, most air conditioning can contribute to global warming and thus add to further and more intense bushfires.
Clearly, this fireworks display could have been revoked out of respect. It was just a corporate function.
7 News also reported NSW Water Minister Melinda Pavey said the timing of the display was questionable.
“It shows a little bit of a lack of respect for our country folk who are going through hell on earth at this time,” she said.
A NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) spokesperson told 10 daily it’s likely the NSW Government applied to the NSW RFS Commissioner for an exemption to proceed with the fireworks.
The exemption was given in the event weather conditions had improved even though the total fire ban lasted until Midnight and high fire danger warnings were issued.
Sydney Harbour is also surrounded by bushland. The city itself is surrounded by bushland. Sydney, as recent as 1994, has been at risk of being surrounded by bushfires, leaving the city isolated from the rest of the world.
Andrew Howard, director of Howard Fireworks told Sydney Spectaculars that exemptions are quite common with hundreds issued during the fire season if it is deemed safe to do so. He also told AAP it wasn’t his call to proceed with Wednesday’s event.
“It wasn’t my decision to proceed. I was contracted to provide the services for the event”
Mr Howard said he would not have gone ahead with the display if it was up to him, knowing the “effect on the entire community” the bushfires had.
“It certainly could’ve been (deemed insensitive) to people who feel that it was. I totally respect their position on it,” he said.
But he reiterated Wednesday’s pyrotechnics were lawful, having been granted an exemption from the total fire ban.
To clarify Fireworks Display Licenses, Permits, Notifications and Total Fire Ban Exemptions were in place for the 8 minute fireworks display that was safely presented on Sydney Harbour at 9.45pm on Wednesday 13th November 2019. pic.twitter.com/fOdmpQrT3F
RFS and Fire & Rescue NSW both confirmed to 9News the exemption had been granted for the event after risk assessments.
Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers from @NSWRFS explains why a twenty minute firework display was allowed to be held in Sydney Harbour during a total fire ban. pic.twitter.com/JcvO0lYwZf
The fact it was a Sydney Harbour display at a time when fire warnings & bans were issued for Sydney itself should have been a sign of impending controversy, especially given the scale & tragedy of recent fires, which is deserving of not applying the exemption even if weather conditions were fine.
The last major exemption given was for Sydney New Year’s Eve (NYE) 2001 – ‘Of Beauty Rich & Rare: Australia – The Land’, which was held in the middle of Black Christmas & a total fire ban. The theme that year was, coincidentally, suitable as it was an outback/country theme. It highlighted a reminder of the lives of those suffering from bushfires.
However, it’s international status didn’t stop controversy breaking out. With increasing risk of worse bushfires due to global warming, a forecast predicting one of NSW’s worst bushfire seasons to continue and one of the largest bushfires burning since the 1980’s, controversy breaking out on a regular fireworks display on Sydney Harbour provokes questions on how large a future controversy will be.
Sydney NYE1993, 1997 – ‘Masquarade’ & 2005 – ‘Heart Of The Harbour’ were also held during a total fire ban. However, there was no major NSW bushfires burning at those times (apart from 1993 as you can tell above), which is a critical difference to the current situation. We don’t know if there were any total fire bans before NYE1993. It should be noted Sydney NYE1993 & 1997 – ‘Masquarade’ were not when Sydney’s fireworks were internationally renowned. However, they are internationally renowed now so 2001’s Sydney NYE edition is the benchmark for fire conditions. However, the 1993 bushfires were about twice as worse as 2001.
The decision to provide an exemption for this display was accidentally careless in not considering the implications of a controversy on the major fireworks displays of Sydney NYE & Australia Day Live, both held in peak bushfire season. Though it is understandable that future major events are not the fire services’ main concern, it could have been revoked out of concern for controversy in light of the recent bushfires.
Theming cannot be used as a justification for Sydney NYE being held this time as this year’s event and for the next 2 years has no theme. It essentially is a ‘party’ theme and partying while the world burns around you would be considered highly distasteful.
Given last night’s controversy, if bushfire conditions are similar or worse to Black Christmas in the week leading up to Sydney NYE, public pressure could grow larger than anticipated due to today’s controversy.
In the event public pressure is too great, it is expected the Midnight Fireworks would be cancelled outright while one or both 9pm & Midnight displays (though now joined) would be postponed to Australia Day. The 9pm Family Fireworks display may be postponed on the night to a time no later than 10:30pm. The fire tug display, which also opens this year’s edition at 6:50pm, may also be cancelled if it is needed for firefighting purposes. It usually sprays water too during this display, which might be consider distasteful given any firefighting efforts, the drought & water restrictions. The aerial display by Matt Hall could be cancelled too if there is high air pollution from smoke, reducing visibility.
The only times Sydney NYE has been cancelled out right was in 1987 & 1988 due to a mass murder in 1986 after a decade of escalating violence, which they spent the 7 years prior trying to resolve.
In 2002, the 9pm Family Fireworks were cancelled due to 90km/h+ winds.
It is possible a charity fund could be set up as part of the live media broadcasts as a trade off. It was last done for NYE2004 – ‘Reflections On Australiana’ for victims of the Indian Ocean Earthquake & Tsunami. However, it would conflict with this year’s charity partner, Refugee Council Of Australia. It could though provide an educational opportunity for the charity partner to emphasise the potential migration of refugees from global warming events such as more frequent and intense bushfires.
In the 2004 edition, a minute’s silence, which was also broadcast, was held prior to the start of the 9pm Family Fireworks’ 10 second countdown. While 6 people have already died from this year’s bushfires, we hope the death toll doesn’t increase further closer to NYE, necessitating a minute’s silence. The Black Christmas bushfires had zero deaths.
It should be noted Sydney New Year’s Eve is a carbon neutral event.
A City Of Sydney spokesman declined to comment on hypothetical situations. However, we believe it is highly likely they have a plan in place. Sydney NYE is known to have fireworks displays planned to be postponed or cancelled (Midnight) if winds are too high. Also, good event management means planning for every scenario including total fire bans, media controversies, bushfires on Sydney Harbour foreshore land, fire danger warnings etc. particularly given the event is essentially a fireworks event.
The City Of Sydney spokesman though did say:
We’ve all been deeply saddened by the destructive bushfires ravaging NSW and Queensland.
The City of Sydney extends its sympathy to those affected and also acknowledges the hard work of the NSW Rural Fire Service and all emergency service responders who have saved countless lives and homes.
Sydney New Year’s Eve is one of the world’s biggest public events.
The event attracts more than one million people to the harbour foreshore, more than one billion global viewers and generates more than $130 million into the NSW economy annually.
The event unites people from all over Australia and the world, with a message of hope, happiness and celebration.
A large proportion of the New Year’s Eve budget is spent on crowd safety measures.
The City donated more than $200,000 to drought affected communities in 2018.
On Monday night Council will consider a Lord Mayoral Minute that if approved will see the City donate $300,000 to the Country Women’s Association of NSW Drought Aid appeal, $300,000 to the NSW Rural Fire Services, and $20,000 to WIRES to assist wildlife recovery and rehoming.
The Minute will also see the City match staff donations to bushfire and drought appeals dollar for dollar, and offer in-kind support to firefighting efforts, bushfire relief, and post-emergency clean-up, such as water trucks, other council service vehicles and staff.
Australia Day In Sydney fireworks in 2003, which were the postponed Sydney NYE2002 – ‘The World’s Celebration In Union’ 9pm Family Fireworks, were cancelled due to a total fire ban andout of respect for firefighters, on Government orders.
We would advise people who have brought tickets for Sydney NYE or Australia Day events to check their refund policies in the event the iconic fireworks are cancelled or postponed to Australia Day as the City Of Sydney is the official organiser providing the fireworks for free. Tickets are usually only refunded if the actual function you are attending is cancelled or below par – not if the fireworks are cancelled or below par.Pirrama Park Wharf is probably the only exception to this so far. People who have bought tickets in National Park areas especially should be cautious. Keep an eye on the news in the week before NYE for any bushfire-related updates.
Sydney Fireworks reports that a Sydney Harbour display for tomorrow night has been postponed for 13 days while Darling Harbour’s weekly fireworks have been cancelled:
This Saturday’s fireworks at Darling Harbour is cancelled. (Screenshot from the Darling Harbour website) pic.twitter.com/Lm6sCtpk4t
Australia Day In Sydney & the Rural Fire Service have been contacted for enquiries.
Disclaimer: Sydney Spectaculars is not associated with Sydney New Year’s Eve organisers, the City Of Sydney, nor Australia Day In Sydney organisers, NSW Government Department Of Premier & Cabinet. As of writing, the fireworks are still planned to go ahead. This is just an opinion article warning of the risks the bushfires may bring plus stating our opinion that last night’s fireworks display causing controversy did not help.
The Sydney Morning Herald has confirmed that the Sydney Harbour Bridge southern pylons will be used as a one-off on Tuesday night for the announcement of the result of the Barrier Draw for The Everest horse race.
It is expected a light show on the arch using the Vivid Sydney lights will occur as well as a one-off generic light show on the north-east pylon will occur too.
The projection show though will be held at 7pm, most likely at the south-east pylon only, with the barrier draw conducted in secret earlier after betting on the race is halted at 5pm for about 2 hours. After the barrier draw is done, the projections will be finalised for display. This happened last year, though in different circumstances.
Racing NSW Chief Executive Officer, Peter V’landys told the Sydney Morning Herald that the Barrier Draw reveal on the Sydney Harbour Bridge will be a one-off as it was on the Sydney Opera House a year ago.
This would be of comfort to some people, who were against last year’s projection show due to horse racing’s gambling & animal rights issues.
However, what is more surprising is his revealing of plans to rotate the projection show annually to new locations.
“There are so many great places in Sydney that would make a spectacular backdrop for The Everest barrier draw, we will move it again next year,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“This race is innovative and fresh and we want to keep it that way. It’s why we have done barrier draws at places that haven’t been used before”
“The draw will be memorable I’m sure on Tuesday night and go around the world again.”
Many places are used in Sydney for projections for various events, most notably for Vivid Sydney. This would mean the Barrier Draw projection show could become an annual event for another decade, assuming The Everest is still held.
Unless a new location is used, the most likely location for next year’s Barrier Draw would be the Museum Of Contemporary Art. It’s the next largest projection site in Sydney. Other possible locations in future years include:
Customs House
Cadman’s Cottage
Australian National Maritime Museum
Taronga Zoo’s Main Entrance
MLC Centre in Martin Place
The Concourse at Chatswood
Carlton & United Brewery at Central Park
Central Station Clock Tower
Coney Island (Luna Park Sydney)
St Mary’s Cathedral
Sydney Town Hall
Argyle Cut
We hope Racing NSW uses the Randwick Racecourse grandstand before any of the other locations due to the recent controversy. The Randwick Racecourse grandstand has never been used for projections as far as we are aware.
Unlike the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons and to an extent, the Sydney Opera House, most of the locations listed above have been used only for artistic purposes as part of Vivid Sydney and not for non-artistic events or promotions.
Exceptions include Customs House in 2013 featuring a one-night Doctor Who 50th Anniversary projection show, Argyle Cut this year featured a Pixar-themed projection show at Vivid Sydney, the Australian National Maritime Museum permanently has maritime-themed projections except on special occasions & St Mary’s Cathedral and Sydney Town Hall have been used for annual Christmas-themed projections.
Last year, when the Sydney Opera House refused permission for ‘The Everest’ to hold it’s barrier draw through projections on the iconic sails, mainly due to a clear advertisement at the projection show’s conclusion:
‘The Everest’ 2018 Proposed Sydney Opera House Projection Show Conclusion Image: Fairfax Media
However, while the projection show was amended, it was preceded by a fiery media ‘interview’ between radio host Alan Jones and Sydney Opera House Trust CEO Louise Herron:
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It concluded with Alan Jones saying “I will be speaking to Gladys Berejiklian in about 5, 3 minutes”. Gladys Berejiklian, Premier Of NSW, hastingly got the projection show to be approved 9 hours later through Ministerial discretion.
This, as well as the general content of the show, sparked massive protests and petitions and worldwide headlines.
One was for the Rugby League World Cup 9’s, which was government-approved and one was for the re-release of Harry Potter & The Goblet Of Fire. The latter we can’t confirm if it was government-approved though we expect it was highly likely a form of guerrilla marketing (even though it was on the Bridge for a minimum of 26 minutes).
We expect Tuesday night at 7pm will have some sort of protest as it will no doubt draw the ire of some people though we expect it won’t be on the scale of last year. However, the news of making the projection show an annual feature rotating to a different landmark each year may ignite protests again.
We expect The Everest Barrier Draw will be broadcast live again this year on the Sky Racing Thoroughbred Central channel.
We also expect a function will be held simultaneous to the projection show at the nearby Overseas Passenger Terminal, which hosted last year’s barrier draw and the recent Dally M Awards, that were simultaneously projected onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge south-east pylon. It should be noted the Dally M Awards are the National Rugby League (NRL)’s award nights, the NRL is linked to the Australian Rugby League Commission, where Peter V’landys is also currently Chairman-elect.
Racing NSW had already been contacted for comment prior to this news breaking as part of our following of this story. They are yet to respond.
We have also asked most of the possible future projection sites for comment.
It was done as part of a social media campaign where the fictitious Death Eaters’ Dark Mark appears on Australian landmarks as part of a promotion for a re-release of Harry Potter & The Goblet Of Fire. The book was first released in 2000, 19 years ago.
We can confirm through webcam images of the Sydney Harbour Bridge that the projections were done for at least 25 minutes. It may have been even longer as the webcam stopped at 11pm at night.
This most likely is a form of guerrilla marketing but in the end, why did they choose to do this in what most likely will be a controversy-ridden week about the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons & the concept of advertising?
We can’t confirm whether approval was given by the NSW Government for this projection.
Last year, in the midst of The Everest controversy, The Chaser, a satirical comedy group well known for their APEC Summit – Sydney 2007 motorcade stunt did something similar by promoting ‘advertiser’ (actually, radio host) Alan Jones’ phone number by projecting it onto buildings such as the Sydney Opera House, NSW Parliament and even Alan Jones’ own home (which is located in a well-known Sydney building). However, that was clearly for satirical comedy purposes.
Protests banner’s have often gone up on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, even this week, clearly without approval. However, it is a form of protest, not a commercial advertisement though they were fined for putting an advertisment up, which in some respect it was. It’s not even a form of Government-approved advertisement on the Sydney Harbour Bridge for an organisation of a currently-being-protested cause. So protests aren’t of great concern for the Sydney Harbour Bridge’s integrity though sometimes those protests can be a huge inconvenience when not government-approved.
Bloomsbury’s projections are clearly a commercial advertisement, guerrilla or not and is using the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons as a billboard regardless if approval was given or not.
Bloomsbury should have know better given the current climate for this sort of activity.
Sydney Spectaculars 
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