Category: 2016

In a truly cross-platform event, 3.6 million viewers tuned in to Australian Broadcasting Corporation Television (ABC TV), 66,000 watched on iview, 10.2 million were reached via Facebook, 4.3 million on Twitter & 200,000 on YouTube for last night’s spectacular celebrations from Sydney Harbour. Hosts Ella Hooper & Jeremy Fernandez celebrated the biggest night of the year with the ABC’s broadcast of New Year’s Eve (NYE) 2016. Available this year for the 1st time in high definition (HD) on ABC TV & live on ABC iview, the fireworks were also streamed on Facebook & YouTube allowing more people than ever before to be part of the magic.

Richard Finlayson, ABC Director of TV, said: “As the national broadcaster, it was deeply satisfying to bring the best-ever broadcast of Sydney NYE to audiences on so many platforms right around the world”

“In brilliant HD for the 1st time, ABC TV brought the energy of the fireworks into the homes of millions & the extended offering through ABC iview and our streams on Facebook and YouTube meant people everywhere could be part of the action”

Presented from outside the Sydney Opera House & inside the Lord Mayor’s Party at Bennelong Point on Sydney Harbour, Ella & Jeremy took audiences through an evening packed with entertainment, comedy & music including the Family Fireworks at 9pm & culminating in the world-famous Midnight Fireworks.

Broadcast Viewing

ABC, ABC ME & ABC News 24 reached 3.6 million broadcast television viewers in metro & regional markets with its NYE2016 coverage from 8:35pm last night. The Family Fireworks at 9pm was watched by an average of 1.1 million people & the Midnight Fireworks by an average of 1.8 million.

ABC was the leading channel with a 5 city prime-time share of 15.8%. The Midnight Fireworks was the number 1 program of the night with a 5 city average audience of 1.3 million & a total TV share of 49.3%. The Family Fireworks at 9pm achieved a 5 city average audience of 786,000 (26.2%) & ranked number 2.

In Sydney, ABC was the number 1 channel with a prime-time share of 23.2% (up on the 2015 result of 20.7%). ABC TV’s coverage reached 1.3 million Sydney viewers, equivalent to 25% of the city’s population.

Digital & Social Viewing

For the 1st time, (ABC) coverage was also streamed live on ABC iview, YouTube & Facebook to reach audiences across more platforms than ever before.

A total of 66,000 plays of ABC’s NYE2016 broadcast have been recorded via iview including 57,000 live & an additional 9,000 catch-up plays so far.

The ABC’s 9pm Family Fireworks & Midnight Fireworks coverage was live streamed to the ABC TV, ABC KIDS For Parents, Australia.com, Sydney.com & Destination New South Wales Facebook pages as well as ABC TV’s YouTube channel. There were 1.65 million unique viewers on Facebook & the streams reached a combined total of 10.2 million users. On YouTube, ABC TV’s Sydney NYE2016 – Welcome To SydNYE stream was the top trending video on the homepage & the stream has already had 200,000 video views.

#NYEABC trended on Twitter during the broadcast with 1,100 tweets using the hashtag reaching 4.3 million users.

Social Media Sources: Facebook Insights, YouTube Analytics, Twitter & Hashtracking.

Broadcast TV Sources: OzTAM & RegionalTAM Preliminary Overnight Data & Webtrends.

Media Release: Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The Sydney Harbour foreshore erupted into a kaleidoscope of colour last night as the City’s biggest-ever fireworks display welcomed in the new year.

More than 1 million people flocked to vantage points across the city to witness 20,000 fireworks launch from the coathanger of the Sydney Harbour Bridge & 800 pyrotechnic effects shoot high above the Sydney Opera House western sails.

For the 1st time ever, the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks were live streamed on Facebook, with viewers joining over 1 billion people tuning in on screens across the globe.

Destination New South Wales estimates the event contributes more than AUD$133 million to the city’s economy.

“This year’s spectacular fireworks displays have proven, yet again, that Sydney is the best New Year’s Eve destination in the world” Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said.

“Our celebrations have allowed us to showcase our fantastic city to the rest of the world, shining a light on our diverse community & sending a message of hope for the year to come”

The 9pm Family Fireworks display enthralled audiences with floral-themed fireworks blossoming across the summer sky before the harbour was doused in glittering violet droplets paying homage to music legend Prince.

The spectacular Midnight Fireworks display honoured David Bowie with a cluster of stars, quarter moons & Saturn-shaped shells inspired by Space Oddity.

Master pyrotechnician, Fortunato Foti, who directed the fireworks for the 19th year running, debuted never-before-seen candy coloured crackers in a tribute to Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’s Gene Wilder, who also passed away earlier in the year.

A AUD$290,000 event clean-up operation involved 6 teams of around 20 workers, along with 60 trucks, sweepers and compactors & approximately 100 additional temporary bins.

The Lord Mayor thanked City Of Sydney staff who worked through the night to ensure the City streets were sparkling clean this morning.

“As the crowds went home after a fantastic evening of celebrations, a dedicated team of 135 Cleansing & Waste Services staff collected about 60 tonnes of waste to return Sydney’s foreshore to mint condition” the Lord Mayor said.

Cleansing & Waste Services Team Leader, Sam Daddario, was on site with a crew that began a 9-hour shift minutes after the final fireworks erupted from the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

“Our staff get a great sense of achievement from seeing their turf transform into a clean space after the celebrations have finished & everyone has gone home” Mister Daddario, who has worked for the City Of Sydney for almost a decade, said.

“Nearly 3 times the number of cleansing staff required on a normal day are needed for the Sydney New Year’s Eve clean-up. We all love working together to make sure the City looks its best after the biggest night of the year”

All waste collected overnight has been transported to the SUEZ Artarmon facility where around 90% will be recycled.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

At the stroke of midnight, one of the largest, most technologically advanced fireworks displays burst over Sydney Harbour.

For 12 mesmerising minutes, the City Of Sydney put on a dazzling New Year’s Eve display.

There were 120,000 fireworks set off from barges around the Harbour, 20,000 fireworks launched from the Sydney Harbour Bridge & 800 pyrotechnic effects exploded above the Sydney Opera House.

The city skyline was painted with colours of lemon, peach, sky blue, violet & lime along with pops of orange & magenta as revellers watched in awe as never-before-seen fireworks effects rang in the New Year.

As the clock struck midnight, the word ‘SYDNEY’ exploded into the sky on the famed ‘coathanger’ arch of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Accompanied by a soundtrack celebrating some of the best music of 2016, a record number of fireworks danced through the sky in time with popular songs including tributes to fallen stars David Bowie & Gene Wilder.

Bowie was honoured with his song Space Oddity, which saw the Harbour transformed into a galaxy of fireworks featuring stars, quarter-moons, Saturn-shaped shells & a sparkling Sydney Harbour Bridge.

A touching tribute to Gene Wilder saw the night sky light up with the colours of the rainbow & the sounds of Pure Imagination, ensuring the Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory star’s memory shone bright over Sydney.

Around the world, millions of people watched the fireworks as they happened with the 1st Facebook live stream of the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks across Europe, America & Asia.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

Sydney has kicked off its New Year’s Eve celebrations in spectacular style with the harbour sparkling with purple fireworks in a scene inspired by Prince’s Purple Rain.

A 1-minute tribute honoured the legendary artist, who passed away earlier this year. A purple waterfall cascaded from the Sydney Harbour Bridge & an explosion of gold and purple fireworks rained over the Harbour from 4 barges.

It was just part of the stunning 9pm Family Fireworks display which saw an 8-minute extravaganza of colour & light explode over Sydney Harbour.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation Me’s Design Your Own Firework competition winner, 10-year-old Georgia from Western Australia, had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to push the start button that kicked off the 9pm display, which also featured her winning design – a gold glitter umbrella with green tips.

Inspired by the “Aussie spirit” at the Games Of The XXXIst Olympiad: Rio De Janeiro 2016, Georgia’s design lit up the sky to the tune of Justin Timberlake’s Can’t Stop the Feeling!.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge will shine like never before as the City Of Sydney puts on its most dazzling New Year’s Eve (NYE) display.

After 15 months of planning & more than 10,000 hours of work, the final touches have been made on the biggest ever Sydney Harbour Bridge effects.

“Sydney will once again cement its position as the NYE capital of the world with this awe-inspiring event” Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said.

“We are shooting over 20,000 fireworks off the Sydney Harbour Bridge , an increase of 2,400 from last year & showcasing the world famous coat hanger arch with 175 lights – making 2016 the biggest display ever.

“Sydney NYE showcases some of the very best that Sydney has to offer & directly contributes AUD$133 million to the local economy through local, interstate & overseas visitors”

More than 1,000 accredited personnel & approximately 300 volunteers are working behind the scenes to bring Sydney’s most spectacular NYE display to life.

Sydney NYE Lighting Director, Ziggy Ziegler, said the Harbour Bridge itself is the focal point of this year’s display.

“The Harbour Bridge itself is the lighting feature. We are following the shape of the Bridge with light, taking advantage of the expanse and the shape & using that as part of the show” Mr Ziegler said.

“We are going to see a lot more bright colours – whites, light blues, even greens & more than 150 individual lighting effect patterns”

Red flares fired from the top of the Sydney Opera House & a golden sun blazing on the Harbour Bridge will mark the official opening of Sydney NYE2016 – Welcome To SydNYE celebrations & pay tribute to the world’s oldest living culture.

A kaleidoscope of cultural imagery will be projected onto the Harbour Bridge pylons while a traditional smoking ceremony will be carried out on board 2 boats moving across the Harbour.

Australian fauna & flora from kangaroo paw & golden wattle to Tasmanian devils & emus will be showcased to the world with photos & videos projected on the 89 metre pylons.

Tourism Australia worked with the City Of Sydney, the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust & Destination New South Wales to create the stunning fauna & flora display.

Tourism Australia Chief Marketing Officer, Lisa Ronson, said the visual display will highlight & celebrate the 200^th anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens.

“We are very proud of this partnership & we are happy that millions around the world will be able to take part in what is undoubtedly one of the best NYE celebrations globally” Miss Ronson said.

The Sydney NYE2016 – Welcome To SydNYE spectacular will be live streamed on sydneynewyearseve.com, the 1-stop shop for planning your night on the harbour, at home or across the globe.

The celebrations will also be broadcast in high definition on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Television (TV) & ABC iview with the fireworks live streamed on the ABC TV Facebook page.

Sydney NYE2016 – Welcome To SydNYE highlights

• 6pm & 8pm – Aerial displays above Sydney Harbour featuring flying ace Matt Hall
• 8:30pm – Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon Projections commence
• 8:38pm – Welcome To Country – Always Walking On Aboriginal Country Ceremony
• 9pm – Family Fireworks
• 9:15pm – Harbour Of Light Parade
• Midnight – Fireworks

Media Release: City Of Sydney

Revellers are being encouraged to look up & listen for the full fireworks effects this New Year’s Eve as Sydney sees out 2016 with its biggest fireworks show yet set to a rocking soundtrack.

A soundtrack that includes songs from rock legends Prince & David Bowie, Australian artists Sia and Flume  & international stars Coldplay and Guns N’ Roses will take the fireworks to another level.

Sydneysiders can tune in to 104.1 2DayFM for the exclusive soundtrack at 9pm & Midnight.

“The music has inspired some wonderful firework effects this year & is a tribute to some of the stars we lost in 2016” Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said.

“We will see designs that will shower from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, rain from barges on the Harbour & explode as a constellation above the city”

“Whether they are enjoying the fireworks at home or watching the spectacular event from a vantage point overlooking the Harbour, people should bring along portable radios or tune in their phones to get the complete light & sound show”

Having spent the past 12 months staring into space & listening to music, Sydney New Year’s Eve soundtrack producer, Alex Gooden, is looking forward to seeing his playlist come to life on December 31.

“It has been a year of imagining what it would be like being on Sydney Harbour on New Year’s Eve watching the fireworks going off around me. As a job, it does not get more fun than that” Mr Gooden said.

“I have spent more than 500 hours listening to Spotify, iTunes Charts, watching YouTube & listening to the radio at different times of the day”

“It is a long process that involves quite a bit of trial & error. It starts with a technical brief from the City Of Sydney & the fireworks director, Fortunato Foti, who supply a fireworks intensity map that peaks at ’11’ for the fireworks climax”

“The brief is very broad because it has to appeal to just about everyone. The music has to be popular and relevant & include as many Australian acts as possible”

“My personal favourites from the fireworks soundtrack are David Bowie’s Space Oddity, Prince’s Purple Rain and Gene Wilder’s Pure Imagination. I can not wait to see how it looks & sounds on the night”

9pm Family Fireworks soundtrack list:

1. Do You Bleed? – Hans Zimmer & Junkie XL (from the film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice)
2. Shelter – Porter Robinson & Madeon
3. 1 Dance – Drake
4. Remind Me (Steve James remix) – Conrad Sewell
5. Just Like Fire – P!NK (from the film Alice Through The Looking Glass)
6. Purple Rain – Prince & The Revolution (from the film Purple Rain)
7. Purple Rain (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra cover) – Prince & The Revolution
8. Can’t Stop The Feeling! – Justin Timberlake (from the film Trolls)
9. Sorry – Justin Bieber
10. Youth (Gryffin Remix) [featuring Gryffin] – Troye Sivan
11. This Is What You Came For (featuring Rihanna) – Calvin Harris
12. No Money – Galantis

Midnight Fireworks soundtrack list:

1. Strip Chase – John Powell & David Buckley (from the film Jason Bourne)
2. Fall Together – The Temper Trap
3. Cheap Thrills– Sia
4. Fast Car (Jonas Blue cover featuring Dakota) [Radio Edit] – Tracy Chapman.
5. Roll Up – Fitz & The Tantrums
6. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
7. Evie – Part 1 : Let Your Hair Hang Down – The Wrights
8. Space Oddity (1999 remaster) – David Bowie
9. Never Be Like You (featuring Kai) – Flume
10. Don’t Let Me Down (featuring Daya) – The Chainsmokers
11. Stepping Stone (featuring Mark Johns) – Lemaitre
12. Faded – Alan Walker
13. Pure Imagination – Gene Wilder (from the film Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory)
14. Carry Me (Featuring Julia Michaels) – Kygo
15. Welcome To The Jungle – Guns N’ Roses
16. Breakin’ Outta Hell – Airbourne
17. Still Falling For You – Ellie Goulding (from the film Bridget Jones’s Baby)
18. Hymn For The Weekend (featuring Beyonce) – Coldplay
19. Fantastical Symphony: An Episode In The Life Of An Artist In 5 Parts – Part 5: Dream Of The Night Of The Sabbath (Claudio Abbado & the Chicago Symphony Orchestra cover) – Hector Berlioz

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) will broadcast live from 8:35pm AEDT. The event will be live streamed at sydneynewyearseve.com, ABC iView & the ABC Television Facebook page.

The Midnight Fireworks will be live streamed globally at Australia.com & Sydney.com Facebook pages.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

New South Wales (NSW) Police have launched a highly-visible & mobile policing operation to ensure the safety & security of the community ahead of Sydney New Year’s Eve.

Operation Talisman will be in place tomorrow (Saturday the 31st of December 2016) as millions of people make their way to New Year’s Eve events in & around Sydney as well as other celebrations across the state.

More than 2000 officers will be deployed on the ground, on the water & in the air, focusing on Sydney Harbour & its multiple foreshore areas.

General Duties Officers from Local Area Commands across Sydney will be assisted by specialist units including Police Transport Command, Public Order & Riot Squad, Operations Support Group, Traffic & Highway Patrol Command, Licensing Police, Mounted Unit, Dog Unit, Marine Area Command & PolAir.

Acting Deputy Commissioner, Frank Mennilli, said police will be prioritising safety & targeting alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour to facilitate the safe passage of crowds as they make their way through the Central Business District (CBD).

“We are prepared for significant crowds who are expected to make their way into the CBD & Sydney Harbour foreshore areas this New Year’s Eve” Acting Deputy Commissioner, Frank Mennilli, said.

“Both uniformed & plain clothed police will be out & about across the multiple event areas to ensure the movement of crowds to vantage points are managed safely. Members of the public are urged to obey the directions of police & event staff as they make their way to their chosen viewing area”

“The public are also reminded to celebrate responsibly & look out for one another. If you choose to have a drink, remember alcohol impairs your judgement & can turn anyone into an offender or victim of crime. The key is to know your limits & drink to moderation” Acting Deputy Commissioner, Frank Mennilli, said.

“Sydney has quickly become known as the world’s premier New Year’s Eve destination so let’s make sure it is memorable for all the right reasons”

NSW Police have been working closely with the City Of Sydney, NSW Government agencies, landowners & other stakeholders in the lead up to the 2016 event.

Operation Talisman Commander, Assistant Commissioner, Mick Fuller, said extensive assessments have been conducted throughout the year & detailed plans will be implemented to ensure traffic, transport, crowd behaviour & security are expertly managed.

“NSW Police, together with our partner agencies, have worked tirelessly to provide a safe & family-friendly environment for New Year’s Eve in Sydney” Assistant Commissioner, Mick Fuller, said.

“We are anticipating large crowds to descend upon Sydney’s foreshore viewing areas for the spectacular fireworks displays at 9pm & Midnight”

“Police & security will be monitoring crowd numbers closely and sites will be closed as soon as they reach capacity & people will be directed away from the area to prevent overcrowding” Assistant Commissioner, Mick Fuller, said.

“We have previously seen several sites reach capacity & close early so we are urging people to arrive early, just in case you have to make your way to another viewing location”

“The community are reminded that ‘Bring Your Own Alcohol’ is prohibited at all vantage points & will be strictly enforced. Anyone who would like to drink should choose a licensed vantage point or licensed premises”

Detailed vantage point information, alcohol-free zones & important hints and tips for the evening are available on the Sydney New Year’s Eve website: www.sydneynewyearseve.com.

The website also features important traffic & transport information to assist revellers in planning their trip to& from the city.

“There will be a large number of major road closures in place throughout New Year’s Eve to facilitate crowd movements & the inspiring fireworks displays” Assistant Commissioner, Mick Fuller, said.

“In addition, there will be special event clearways & significant changes to traffic conditions in the Sydney CBD, North Sydney, Lower North Shore, Inner West & the Harbour foreshore so public transport is certainly your best bet”

“There are, however, thousands of additional train & bus services available to get people to their New Year’s Eve celebrations & home again” Assistant Commissioner, Mick Fuller, said.

“With additional road closures in place this year, pay close attention to signage as your route to & from your chosen vantage point may differ. Event staff & police will be on hand to assist as you make your way home”

“For those who must drive, please exercise patience, be aware of your surroundings & expect major delays particularly at the end of the night when our focus will be on facilitating pedestrian movement”

Detailed public transport information is available on the Sydney New Year’s Eve website. Special event traffic information can also be found at: www.livetraffic.com.

With significant maritime traffic expected on Sydney Harbour, police & maritime authorities will be out in force to ensure operators of recreational & commercial vessels are complying with maritime laws.

“Similar to foreshore areas, the Harbour will be crowded so skippers are reminded to be alert & aware of other boaters at all times” Assistant Commissioner, Mick Fuller, said.

“Before heading out on the water, check the vessel is in good working order, ensure all the required safety equipment is on board – most importantly, lifejackets & check special event maritime information”

“And remember, the alcohol limit is 0.05 – just like on land & with officers conducting random breath tests on the water, it is safer not to drink at all” Assistant Commissioner, Mick Fuller, said.

Visit www.rms.nsw.gov.au & follow the links to ‘Maritime’ for details on exclusion zones & movement restriction times.

Media Release: NSW Police Force

David Bowie, Prince & Gene Wilder will take centre-stage this New Year’s Eve (NYE), with their songs inspiring never-before-seen fireworks effects over Sydney Harbour.

In a tribute to 3 of the entertainment legends who passed away this year, spectacular new firework designs will shower from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, rain from barges on the harbour & explode in a space odyssey above the city.

“This year, sadly, saw the loss of many music & entertainment legends around the world. Celebrating their music as part of the Sydney NYE2016 – ‘Welcome To SydNYE’ fireworks displays is an opportunity to reflect on the year that has been & celebrate what the future holds” Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said.

“I am sure we will all be starstruck by the amazing firework effects this NYE”

Among the wonderful displays will be spectacular new designs inspired by 3 artists lost to us in 2016.

“Sydney is especially significant for David Bowie, who called Elizabeth Bay home for a decade from the early 80’s, filming music videos & recording an album here”

“Prince performed in Australia many times & his Sydney Opera House concert was one of his last & I know children and adults everywhere will delight in the colourful Willy Wonka moment during the Midnight Fireworks”

Sydney NYE Fireworks Director, Fortunato Foti, said the Sydney NYE2016 – ‘Welcome To SydNYE’ soundtrack had inspired never-before-seen firework formations this year.

“We are always evolving the effects and coming up with new techniques & this year, we were really excited by the music soundtrack & how we were able to bring it to life visually” Mister Foti said.

“Over the past 20 years we have used hundreds of different shapes and designs & this year, we will be adding to that. It is going to be a real buzz seeing these shine over Sydney for the 1st time”

Each year, the fireworks displays start with the music soundtrack. It is compiled by Sydney NYE Soundtrack Producer, Alex Gooden, & completed by early September to allow for the complex technical & design process.

A crowd of 1 million spectators is expected to gather along the Sydney Harbour foreshore to watch the fireworks spectacular while an estimated global audience of 1 billion will see broadcasts of the fireworks.

For the 1st time, the Sydney NYE fireworks will be live streamed on Facebook, reaching a global audience of more than 10 million Facebook followers.

The City Of Sydney has brought together broadcast partner, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) & peak tourism bodies, Tourism Australia & Destination New South Wales (NSW) to live stream the world’s most famous fireworks show.

“Sydney NYE s one of the biggest annual celebrations in the world. By making the most of digital technology that is available, for the 1st time this year, we can put the Sydney NYE fireworks show in the palm of people’s hands around the world – right as it happens” the Lord Mayor said.

“Our world famous Sydney NYE is one of the world’s biggest NYE celebrations that generates more than AUD$130 million annually for the NSW economy”

“This is an opportunity to further showcase Sydney to the world as we bring the Harbour to life like never before”

Sydney’s world-class events are a major drawcard for overseas visitors with statistics showing half those attending the Sydney NYE2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ had travelled from the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Germany & other parts of Europe.

Well over a million people attended the Sydney NYE celebrations & according to leading research analysts Stollznow, more than 46% travelled from overseas specifically to attend the event.

The Sydney NYE2016 – ‘Welcome To SydNYE’ celebrations include:

6pm – Aerial displays above Sydney Harbour by flying ace Matt Hall

8:30pm – Start of the Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon Projections

8:38pm – Welcome To Country – ‘Always Walking On Aboriginal Country’ ceremony

9pm – Family Fireworks

9:15pm – Harbour Of Light Parade

Midnight – Main Fireworks Display

Audiences can watch the live stream of the Welcome To Country, the 9pm Familt Fireworks & the Midnight Fireworks on sydneynewyearseve.com, the 1-stop shop for planning your night on the harbour, at home or across the globe.

The Sydney NYE2016 – ‘Welcome To SydNYE’ spectacular will be broadcast in high definition on ABC Television (TV) & ABC iview with the fireworks also streamed live on ABC TV Facebook.

Sydneysiders can tune into 104.1 2DayFM for the exclusive fireworks soundtrack at 9pm & Midnight.

Follow the event on Twitter, Instagram (#SydNYE) & Facebook (@cityofsydney) for up-to-date information.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

Roads & Maritime Services is advising boaters to plan ahead for a safe & enjoyable New Year’s Eve on Sydney Harbour.

Executive Director of New South Wales Maritime, Angus Mitchell, said up to 4000 spectator boats are expected to compete for the best vantage point on what is the busiest time on Sydney Harbour.

“The sheer numbers of boats of all shapes & sizes requires careful planning to ensure there is no opportunity for anchor rage out on the water” Mister Mitchell said.

“The best message for boaties is to not leave your trip too late – there are bound to be crowds accessing the water at boat ramps & the vast numbers of other vessels on the water and the 6 knot speed limit can slow down the journey”

“Some people anchor up to 2 days ahead for the prime viewing spots for the New Year’s Eve fireworks. It is one of the biggest challenges for Roads & Maritime Services to manage the on-water traffic”

“Skippers should make sure all their safety gear is on board, navigation lights are working & they avoid exclusion zones”

“Lighting checks & random breath testing will occur throughout New Year’s Eve. Boat skippers should stay under the 0.05 blood alcohol limit or face heavy fines, loss of licence or even jail”

“When the festivities are complete, skippers will need to remember to be patient & to display the appropriate navigation lights as hundreds of other boats will be trying to move around the Harbour at the same time”

“The large number of spectator craft can create choppy conditions & it is important everyone has a life-jacket available regardless of the size of the boat they are travelling in”

“It is also essential for all skippers to observe important boating safety guidelines such as keeping a proper lookout & maintaining a safe speed”

“Unless it is an emergency, boaters should never set off flares on the water – it is illegal & dangerous”

“Roads & Maritime Services will coordinate the on-water traffic management including installing an exclusion zone of yellow buoys which will operate from 8pm on Saturday the 31st of December to 12:45am on New Year’s Day extending from Cockatoo Island in the west to Clark Island in the east.

“No unauthorised vessels will be allowed in the area during this time & access under the Sydney Harbour Bridge will be prohibited. The speed limit for recreational vessels in & around the exclusion zone will be 6 knots”

“If you intend to pick up passengers in the event area, have a plan in place as many wharves will only be accessible to pedestrians through alcohol-free & ‘no glass permitted’ zones. Road closures may also be in place at many locations”

Maps, exclusion zones & recommended vantage points can be found at http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/about/news-events/sydney-summer-aquatic-events-guide.pdf (Portable Document Format, 3.92 megabytes).

Media Release: Roads & Maritime Services

Hundreds of volunteers & dozens of Take Kare ambassadors will take to Sydney’s streets this New Year’s Eve to offer more support to revellers than ever before.

This year, volunteer support is offered in 15 different languages including Japanese, Hindi, Spanish, Portuguese, Filipino, Malay, Mandarin, Cantonese, Thai, German, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Khmer, Korean as well as English.

Volunteers will be on hand to guide visitors throughout the city from 7am on New Year’s Eve, answering questions about access points, public transport & other services.

“We are proud to have so many volunteers turning out on our biggest night of the year showing the world how passionate & supportive locals are about our city” Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said.

“Many people will have travelled from overseas or interstate & if this is their 1st experience of Sydney, we want to make sure it is the best it can be”

Sydney New Year’s Eve volunteer, Adrian Lane, is eager to again be part of Australia’s largest public event that transforms the entire city he lives in for the night.

“Sydney New Year’s Eve is special because it brings together people from all nationalities & walks of life” Mister Lane, from Haymarket, said.

“We expect lots of people in the city from 3pm & big crowds leaving the vantage points after the 9pm Family Fireworks. If anyone needs some help, they should come talk to one of the volunteers on the day. We are always happy to help.”

“A lot of the volunteers have been doing this for over 5 years, some even longer so they have a wealth of experience & knowledge”

With over 40 years of volunteering experience, 2016 will see Adrian volunteer on New Year’s Eve for the 10th time. Alongside 200 fellow Spectator Service Volunteers, Adrian will hit the streets from the 27th of December to New Year’s Eve offering information & support to the public.

Roving volunteers will be found at Hyde Park North, Shakespeare Place, Wynyard Park, Macquarie & Bridge Streets, the Queen Victoria Building & the Sydney Opera House on the night.

Information booths will be at The Rocks, Martin Place, Macquarie and Bridge Streets & Shakespeare Place on New Year’s Eve. Information booths can also be found at Customs House & the Queen Victoria Building from the 27th of December to New Year’s Eve.

The Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation’s program Take Kare Safe Space will work with Saint John’s Ambulance on the night.

With a team of around 50 ambassadors including 5 roving teams, Take Kare volunteers will operate from Take Kare Safe Spaces at Sydney Town Hall and Kings Cross & 6 information booths from 10pm to 4am AEDT.

Take Kare Ambassadors will provide free water, phone and internet access & help vulnerable people get home safely.

In addition, Saint John’s Ambulance New South Wales volunteers will have access to Saint John’s vehicles, defibrillators, oxygen & 1st aid kits for those in need of urgent medical attention.

With Sydney welcoming over 1 million spectators around Sydney Harbour, the new services will further ensure the safety & enjoyment of revellers after the Midnight Fireworks light up the sky.

Getting in & out of the city will be different this New Year’s Eve. There will be road closures, on-street fencing & diversions that will help people get through the city safely & move crowds to transport.

Over 40 wayfinding personnel will be available throughout the city on New Year’s Eve. They will assist in directing revellers to vantage points & to public transport. Wayfinders will be located on main routes throughout the city.

The City Of Sydney will provide a guide for public transport on New Year’s Eve. The guide includes tips about using public transport & a map with walking routes to public transport that is supported by wayfinding personnel. It can also be downloaded from the official Sydney New Year’s Eve website on the Public Transport webpage.

Leading up to the night, the event guides will be distributed across the city centre at train stations, information centres, libraries & service centres. Event guides are available in Chinese, Spanish, Korean, German, Japanese, Braille, large print & audio format.

There will be more than 1000 extra trains & 3500 extra buses available on the night.

The official Sydney New Year’s Eve 2016 website offers a range of tools to plan a safe & enjoyable night including an interactive map with details on road closures, public transport information & vantage point details. Head to sydneynewyearseve.com/plan-your-nye/ for more information on how to plan your night.

Transport For NSW offers public transport information through social media & transportation smartphone applications. For a full list of pages & smartphone applications, head to transportnsw.info/en/travelling-with-us/keep-updated/index.page.

For further information on road closures, Google Maps will integrate road closure data on the 30th of December & divert people around these on the day.

Media platforms such as Australian Broadcasting Corporation Television, other broadcast television & the 2DayFM radio broadcast will give updates throughout the night concerning road closures & traffic conditions.

Roads & Maritime Services has provided a list of real-time road smartphone applications, visit rms.nsw.gov.au/roads/using-roads/trip-information/real-time-road-apps.html for more information.

As the event proceeds & vantage points begin to fill, key information will be regularly updated & delivered to the public using the #SydNYE Twitter hashtag.

For information about the Take Kare Safe Spaces, visit thomaskellyyouthfoundation.org.au/take-kare-safe-space/.

Media Release: City Of Sydney