Tag: Sydney New Year’s Eve

Sydneysiders & visitors celebrating New Year’s Eve will be safer this year thanks to an extension of the successful Safe Space & Take Kare Ambassador program.

Just before midnight on New Year’s Eve, the City Of Sydney’s 6 information booths in the city centre will transform into Safe Spaces where trained Salvation Army Street Team volunteers will administer basic first aid, provide free water, phone and internet access & help vulnerable people get home safely.

This will be the 1st time the initiative, which has been running year-round from Sydney Town Hall & Kings Cross, will operate at locations across central Sydney on New Year’s Eve.

“I’m really pleased this terrific public safety program, which has helped so many young people avoid the risk of late-night alcohol-fuelled violence, will operate on New Year’s Eve,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

“Sydney New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest annual celebrations in the world, attracting one million spectators along the Sydney Harbour foreshore & we want all of them to have a safe and enjoyable night.”

“The Safe Space & Take Kare Ambassador program helped almost 15,000 young people in its 1st year of operation & the City is proud to be a supporter of this vital initiative.”

“I’m delighted it will be in place to keep people safe at Australia’s largest public celebration.”

Take Kare Ambassadors from The Salvation Army’s Salvo Street Teams will also be out on the town, helping Sydney revellers enjoy the biggest night of the year safely.

“Everyone deserves to have a great night on New Year’s Eve & to come home safely at the end of it,” said Ralph Kelly of the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation.

“I’m proud of the work the Take Kare Ambassadors have done throughout the year & am delighted they will be out on New Year’s Eve in even greater numbers to help keep our young people safe from alcohol-related violence.”

Nate Brown, who will be leading the Salvos Street Team on the night said they were proud to be helping more people than ever before on New Year’s Eve.

“We did a lot of good work last year so I’m really happy we’ll be back to help more people than ever to have a better New Year’s Eve experience,” Mr Brown said.

“We help anyone who needs it – whether it’s finding their friends, helping them get back to their hotel when they’re lost or just providing some water & a safe place to sit if they’ve had a bit too much to drink.”

People coming into the city on New Year’s Eve also have a range of tools to help them plan a safe & enjoyable night. These include the Sydney NYE2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ Telstra app & the City’s official Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ website featuring an interactive vantage point map, accessibility & live transport and road closure information.

The Safe Space & Take Kare Ambassador program was set up by the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation in partnership with The Salvation Army & the City Of Sydney. The program provides on-street assistance & a sanctuary for intoxicated young people who are at risk of crime.

It is operated by the Salvos Street Teams in partnership with the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation, City Of Sydney, New South Wales (NSW) Government, NSW Police, St Vincent’s Hospital, local community groups, business owners & other service providers.

The program is supported by the City, NSW Government, Macquarie Group Foundation, Crown Resorts Foundation & the Packer Family Foundation.

For more information about volunteering as a Take Kare Ambassador, visit salvos.org.au/streetteams.

For more information about the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation, visit thomaskellyyouthfoundation.org.au.

For more information on Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’, visit sydneynewyearseve.com.

Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ is proudly supported by the ABC, Telstra, Production Resource Group, The Electric Canvas, Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney, Coca-Cola Amatil, Crown Lager, De Bortoli Wines, El Jimador, Interface, McWilliam’s Wines, The Menzies Sydney, The P.A. People, 2DayFM, APN Outdoor, the Royal Australian Mint & New South Wales Government agencies and landholders including the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority & the Sydney Opera House Trust.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

Stunning new footage of Sydney Harbour, the city’s iconic beaches & animals from Taronga Zoo will be beamed onto the pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge as part of Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’.

In a world-1st tourism initiative between Tourism Australia & City Of Sydney, a series of 6 short film sequences will be projected onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge’s 2 79m high concrete pillars.

The clips, each lasting 3.5 minutes, are expected to be watched live by over a million revellers lining the Sydney Harbour foreshore, as well as millions watching across Australia.

The clips, captured with GoPro cameras by Tourism Australia’s social media unit, will provide a taster of the national tourism agency’s latest global campaign, due to be unveiled early in the new year & which will focus on Australia’s world-class aquatic and coastal experiences.

Tourism Australia Global Manager Of Social Media & Content, Jesse Desjardins, said the Sydney Harbour Bridge provided an ideal platform – literally – to showcase inspiring footage of the world’s most beautiful harbour cities to a global audience of millions during one of Australia’s most internationally celebrated nights.

“With the eyes of Australia & the rest of the world firmly fixed upon Sydney Harbour & the Sydney Harbour Bridge this New Year’s Eve, what a great platform to highlight some of the many other fantastic experiences that can be enjoyed in and around the Harbour & beaches of this great city” he said.

The 6 sequences comprise:

• Sydney From Above – a series of drone sequences featuring Sydney’s most beautiful waterside locations including Palm Beach, Bondi, Bronte, Watson’s Bay, Shark Island & the Royal Botanic Gardens;
• Beach Lifestyle – featuring shots taken at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach;
• A Pug’s Life – featuring ‘Mr Biscuit The Pug‘ (104k Instagram followers) & his canine friends playing in the water & enjoying the parks of Rose Bay Beach;
• Catching Waves – featuring Tiffany Boddey & local surf instructor Shaun Tunnicliffe from Let’s Go Surfing;
• In For A Dip – featuring Sydney resident Nick Bowden & Tiffany Boddey taking a morning swim at Bondi Beach & the famous Icebergs outdoor swimming pool;
• Zoo With A View – featuring some of Taronga Zoo’s most famous & popular residents including Munro the Penguin, Marco the Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo, Mali the Australian Fur Seal & Koalas.

Mr Desjardins said the flexibility of working with GoPro cameras meant that they had been able to capture great footage very quickly.

“We’re seeing a dramatic increase in the amount of GoPro footage being shared with us through our social media channels. It’s incredible what our fans right across the country are capturing by being at the right place & at the right time” he said.

Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ celebrators are being invited to submit their own content to Tourism Australia by using #SeeAustralia or the @Australia tag on Instagram or posting on Tourism Australia’s Facebook wall at facebook.com/seeaustralia.

A sneak preview of the 6 clips can be viewed at http://www.australia.com/en/news/2015/december/iconic-sydney-experiences-new-years-eve.html.

Media Release: Tourism Australia

A record number of volunteers will give up their time on New Year’s Eve to help Sydneysiders & visitors have a safe and fun night.

With a million people expected to line Sydney Harbour for Australia’s largest public event, more than 180 volunteers of all ages will be helping the crowds – including, for the 1st time, roving volunteers among the crowds at St James, Wynyard & Macquarie Street.

Working with 1500 event staff, the volunteers will provide information & directions at popular spots around Circular Quay to help everyone have the night of their lives & get home safely afterwards.

Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ volunteers will operate 6 information booths throughout the city, providing access information, directions & distributing Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ event guides and maps.

The booths will be located at Circular Quay, the Queen Victoria Building, Macquarie Street, Shakespeare Place, George Street & The Rocks.

“I’m delighted more people than ever are giving up their time to help everyone enjoy to the max Sydney’s biggest night of the year,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

“Volunteers make a fantastic contribution to Sydney New Year’s Eve – they’re part of what makes the event so special. We couldn’t do it without them & the 1500 staff who work so hard on the night to keep everyone safe & clean up our streets and parks after the party is over.”

Veteran volunteers George & Joseph Attard are both in their 70’s & have been helping out on New Year’s Eve since 1998.

The cousins both moved to Sydney from Malta & see volunteering as a way of giving back to the community that welcomed them.

As well as volunteering at Sydney New Year’s Eve, George & Joseph have volunteered at many public events in Sydney including The Games Of The 27th Olympiad – Sydney 2000.

“I volunteer because I love this country,” George Attard said.

“Everybody is smiling & excited. You can feel it in the air. A lot of people ask to hug us & ask us to pose for photos. It’s like we are movie stars.”

Sydney New Year’s Eve is Australia’s largest public event & features one of the biggest, most technologically advanced fireworks displays in the world.

As well as the event’s information booths around central Sydney, people coming into the city on New Year’s Eve have a range of tools to help them plan a safe & enjoyable night.

These include the Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ Telstra app & the City Of Sydney’s official Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ website, which features an interactive vantage point map, accessibility information & live transport and road closure information.

For more information, visit sydneynewyearseve.com.

The Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ Harbour Bridge pylon projections will feature an Auslan interpreter signing on both east & west sides for the 1st time.

Complementing the creative projections on the Bridge pylons, the Auslan interpreter will sign ‘Welcome To Sydney’ & ‘City Of Colour’ in the official sign language of Australia’s deaf community.

A live audio description broadcast will also be available & 4 new accessible vantage points will help make this year’s event the most inclusive yet.

“This year’s theme is ‘City Of Colour’ – it’s a celebration of the unique, diverse and inclusive beauty of Sydney & we want everyone to enjoy the show,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

“Our research shows almost 70% of people with a disability who attended last year’s Sydney New Year’s Eve did so because there were accessible vantage points & services on offer. Now we are taking things to the next level ensuring key elements of the celebrations are accessible too.”

Sydney New Year’s Eve accessible vantage points cater for people with a disability, their family, friends & carers. Each site caters for a range of accessibility requirements – sensory, neurological, psychological & cognitive and learning disabilities.

Family-friendly vantage points include Pirrama Park in Pyrmont. The Park has an accessible spinner designed to accommodate 3 wheelchairs as well as several other children – so kids can have fun in the build up to the celebrations.

Accessible vantage points are: Barangaroo Reserve, Bradleys Head, Cahill Expressway, Goat Island, Mary Booth Reserve, Mrs Macquarie’s Point, Nielsen Park, Pirrama Park & the Sydney Opera House.

More information on the accessible vantage points & services is available at sydneynewyearseve.com.

The website also features maps showing the most accessible routes to some vantage points, accessible public toilets, transport information & other points of interest.

A live audio description of the night’s celebrations will be broadcast from 8:30pm on 100.5FM 2RPH DIGITAL & online at 2rph.org.au.

For those staying at home, live closed captions will be available on ABC TV’s broadcast of the celebrations, while the soundtrack to the 9pm Family Fireworks & the Midnight Fireworks will be simultaneously broadcast on 104.1 2DayFM.

The City of Sydney prides itself on ensuring Sydney New Year’s Eve is a safe, inclusive, free & enjoyable event for all.

For more information on the City’s accessibility services on the night & to book, contact nyedisability@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au or phone 02 9265 9325.

Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ is proudly supported by the ABC, Telstra, Production Resource Group, The Electric Canvas, Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney, Coca-Cola Amatil, Crown Lager, De Bortoli Wines, El Jimador, Interface, McWilliam’s Wines, The Menzies Sydney, The P.A. People, 2DayFM, APN Outdoor, the Royal Australian Mint & New South Wales Government agencies and landholders including the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority & the Sydney Opera House Trust.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

Join Australian Broadcasting Corporation Television (ABC TV) as they countdown to the world-famous Midnight Fireworks on the biggest night of the year with SYDNEY NEW YEAR’S EVE 2015 – ‘CITY OF COLOUR’.

Presented from outside the Sydney Opera House & inside the Lord Mayor’s Party at Bennelong Point on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour, the 4-hour live show is set to dazzle viewers with an amazing line-up jam packed with more entertainment, comedy & music than you can shake a sparkler at.

ABC Kids’ HUMPTY DUMPTY & JUSTINE CLARKE will open the evening’s proceedings at 8:30pm. They will be joined by a cast of family favourites including HOOT & HOOTABELLE, the much-loved characters from PLAY SCHOOL, amazing live performances from SHEPPARD & the cast of the London Palladium production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, as well as appearances from special guests including JIMMY GIGGLE, BANANAS IN PYJAMAS and cast members from STUDIO 3, BUSHWHACKED!, NOWHERE BOYS & READY FOR THIS. Viewers can expect plenty of entertaining behind-the-scenes mayhem as the toys & puppets take over the ABC control room.

At 9pm, the winner of ABC3’s ‘Design Your Own Firework’ competition, Emma Ianzano of Victoria, will press a giant button that will set the sky alight with the Family Fireworks display featuring her own unique firework design.

Then, live from the Lord Mayor’s Party, EDDIE PERFECT & co-host ELLA HOOPER will take us through to midnight with an entertainment extravaganza featuring the annual comedy panel show, THE 2015 PUB QUIZ. Hosted by LAWRENCE MOONEY, The 2015 Pub Quiz features panellists Alan Brough, Michala Banas, Emma Alberici, Nazeem Hussein, Luke McGregor & Tom Ballard, as well as special guests Barrie Cassidy, Marty Sheargold & Angela Bishop. The teams will take an irreverent look back at the year that was, reviewing all the big news of 2015 over 90 minutes.

From 11pm onwards, Eddie & Ella check out what’s happening around the country with crosses to an amazing line-up of music from The Falls Music & Arts Festivals across Australia, featuring the best of their bill, including COURTNEY BARNETT, BIRDS OF TOKYO, PAUL KELLY and THE MERRI SOUL SESSIONS, RÜFÜS, HILLTOP HOODS, PEKING DUK, BLOC PARTY, THE WOMBATS & FOALS. It’s guaranteed to provide the best countdown soundtrack to celebrations everywhere.

Comedian JOEL CREASEY will also feature, checking-in throughout the night as he goes on the hunt for Sydney’s best New Year’s Eve party. Then, as the clock strikes midnight, the skies over the city’s harbour will explode into a sea of colour as the Midnight Fireworks come to life.

Join us for a night to remember with top notch comedy & a stellar music line-up to rock your New Year’s Eve.

The SYDNEY NEW YEAR’S EVE 2015 – ‘CITY OF COLOUR’ broadcast starts on Thursday December 31 at 8:30pm on ABC TV*.

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RUN-DOWN HIGHLIGHTS (exact times subject to change):

8:30pm – ABC Kids New Year’s Eve
9pm – Family Fireworks
9:30pm – The 2015 Pub Quiz
11pm – Concert from The Falls Music & Arts Festivals
12am – Midnight Fireworks

*ABC TV broadcast delayed to local times

Media Release: Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Sydney Harbour Bridge will be the star of the Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ celebrations with new lighting, fireworks & technology placing it at the heart of this year’s fireworks spectacular.

Special lighting effects will bring the Bridge to life, projections will illuminate both sides of its pylons for the 1st time & 2,400 extra fireworks will erupt from above, below and through the world-famous coat-hanger structure.

Meanwhile, the sails of the Sydney Opera House will blaze with new pyrotechnic effects, turning the whole harbour into a kaleidoscope of colour.

“Sydney is a ‘City Of Colour’ and this Sydney New Year’s Eve will be a celebration of what makes us such a vibrant, diverse & beautiful city,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

“Sydney has some of the world’s most recognisable architecture & a stunning natural harbour teeming with wildlife. It’s also home to some of the world’s most exciting creative talent. This year we’ve combined all 3 to showcase Sydney to the rest of the world.”

“All eyes will be on the Sydney Harbour Bridge this year as it plays a bigger role than ever before as the centrepiece of our celebrations.”

The creative vision for this year’s celebration comes from both established & emerging Sydney artists including Rhoda Roberts, up-and-coming design studio Province, maverick fashion designers Romance Was Born & the City Of Sydney’s creative consultants, Imagination Australia.

Both Province & Romance Was Born are graduates of the City Of Sydney’s Creative Spaces program that provides affordable studios for creative businesses in the city centre.

This year’s 9pm Family Fireworks will also celebrate the anniversaries of some of Sydney’s best loved attractions, featuring special flora & fauna fireworks in tribute to the 200th year of Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens & 100 years of Taronga Zoo.

The pylon projections will also feature special creative content celebrating the 2 Sydney institutions.

Cameron Kerr, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Taronga Conservation Society Australia said Taronga was very excited to have the Zoo’s centennial anniversary honoured in the Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ celebrations.

“We’re delighted to be part of Sydney New Year’s Eve & to have our conservation achievements over the last 100 years celebrated as part of the city’s biggest night of the year,” Mr Kerr said.

“We’re lucky enough to have a great view of the Bridge from the Zoo & everyone who works here is looking forward to watching the special fireworks and projections & to celebrate our 100th year of protecting wildlife all over the world.”

Sydney New Year’s Eve Fireworks Director Fortunato Foti said it was always a challenge to ensure the fireworks display kept on getting better every year.

“It’s been our most complicated brief yet to produce a fireworks display that synchronises with all these other new special effects, but I think the crowds will be impressed with the results on the night,” Mr Foti said.

“It’s tough to keep making each Sydney New Year’s Eve display better than the last but we’ve got a lot of new fireworks this year & with more fireworks than ever before on the Bridge itself, I don’t think people will walk away disappointed.”

Sydney New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest annual celebrations in the world, attracting 1 million spectators along the Sydney Harbour foreshore & a global audience of 1 billion.

People coming into the city on New Year’s Eve have a range of tools to help them plan a safe & enjoyable night. These include the Sydney NYE Telstra app & the City’s official Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ website featuring an interactive vantage point map, accessibility & live transport and road closure information.

The City also produces a printed event guide, available at Sydney Airport, major transport hubs throughout the city, hotels, tourism information kiosks & the City’s libraries and community centres.

Those who want to party at home can tune into Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Television’s broadcast, listen to 104.1 2DayFM’s live fireworks soundtracks or watch the live stream on Telstra’s YouTube channel.

This year’s official Sydney New Year’s Eve charity partner is Habitat For Humanity, a non-profit organisation that builds homes, communities & hope around the world and here in Australia.

“New Year’s Eve is a time of hope for people all over the world but many people in the Asia-Pacific region – including here in Australia – are just hoping that next year will bring a safe, permanent home for them & their children,” Martin Thomas, CEO of Habitat For Humanity said.

“Habitat For Humanity is all about building hope for the future & we’re looking forward to being part of Australia’s biggest public event & spreading that message of hope worldwide.”

For more information, visit sydneynewyearseve.com.

Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ is proudly supported by the ABC, Telstra, Production Resource Group, The Electric Canvas, Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney, Coca-Cola Amatil, Crown Lager, De Bortoli Wines, El Jimador, Interface, McWilliam’s Wines, The Menzies Sydney, The P.A. People, 2DayFM, APN Outdoor, the Royal Australian Mint & New South Wales Government agencies and landholders including the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority & the Sydney Opera House Trust.

Media Release: City Of Sydney

10:45am AEDT – That concludes our relatively small live blog. Stay tuned for a formal post at approximately 2pm.

10:20am AEDT – Media Launch finished after more speeches from numerous people. Big news out of this – The hangers of the Sydney Harbour Bridge return to the Midnight Fireworks after 12 years and this year’s Bridge Effect is the Sydney Harbour Bridge itself through the use of a light show featuring powerful searchlights!

10:00am AEDT – Now beginning. Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, now speaking.

9:45am AEDT – Media Launch about to commence.

0:00am AEDT: Join us here from 9:45am AEDT, Monday the 14th of December 2015 as the Sydney NYE2015 – ‘City Of Colour’ Media Launch takes place!

“The greatest lighting mystery since the Millennium” will start to be solved as we prepare for the revealing of what we think could be the most iconic edition of the event sinchie the Millennium.

Will there be a Bridge Effect? If not, how will the Bridge be lit up instead? Are there any more surprises in store? These questions about the “Sydney Harbour Bridge effects” as well as more announcements about the fireworks and creative content will be answered and revealed on the stroke of 10am Sydney time.

A formal post will be posted at approximately 2pm AEDT.

Note: Pending internet reception

After 2 consecutive controversial broadcasts, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has revealed new details of the Australian TV broadcast of Sydney NYE, which may show signs of a significant improvement on previous years even if it is not a total improvement.

One of the new details is the inclusion of an “amazing line-up of music coming from The Falls Festivals”. “The Falls Festivals”, referring to the ‘The Falls Music & Arts Festivals’, is held over 3 days focusing around New Year’s Eve but is not held in Sydney. It is held over 3 locations around eastern Australia – Byron Bay, Lorne and Marion Bay. Major acts this year include Paul Kelly, Rufus, Peking Duk and Hilltop Hoods. The Festival is supported by Triple J, an ABC youth radio station.

The last time a separate music concert was broadcast as part of a Sydney NYE broadcast was in 2011, when a ‘NYE Revolution’ concert was held at Glebe Island on the foreshores of Sydney Harbour. Artists that were broadcast included Pet Shop Boys & Jamiroquai.

Assuming the music acts are shown live, these acts have potential to be on TV:

• TORO Y MOI (30 minutes maximum)  – Unlikely due to conflicting events
• PAUL KELLY & THE MERRI SOUL SESSIONS (30 minutes maximum) – Unlikely due to conflicting events
• PEKING DUK (32 minutes maximum) – Unlikely due to conflicting events
• ELLIPHANT (42 minutes maximum)  – Unlikely due to conflicting events
• KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD (42 minutes maximum) – Possible but limited due to conflicting events
• DJ YODA (48 minutes maximum) – Possible but limited due to conflicting events
• FOALS (1 hour maximum)  – Possible but limited due to conflicting events
• BLOC PARTY (1 hour maximum) – Possible but limited due to conflicting events
• WAX MOTIF (Full 1 hour set possible) – Very likely
• THE AVENER (Full 1 hour set possible) – Very likely
• GENERIK (Full 1 hour set possible) – Very likely
• THE WOMBATS (Full 1 hour set possible) – Very likely
• HILLTOP HOODS (Full 1 hour set possible) – Very likely
• RÜFÜS (Full 1 hour set possible) – Very likely

Conflicting events include the 9pm Family & Midnight Fireworks, the ABC3-dedicated half-hour between 8:30pm & 9pm as well as outside of broadcast times.

The above acts as well as the unlisted acts that are held earlier do have potential to be on TV if the broadcast of them is delayed, which was what Channel Nine did in 2011, when they had the Sydney NYE Australian TV broadcast rights.

The only disappointing aspect of this is that the ABC currently seem to still not be showing the official Sydney NYE music acts live from the VIP Viewing Area at Dawes Point on the Sydney Harbour foreshore. In previous years, these acts are shown on the Telstra YouTube live stream (probably due to exclusivity rights which is likely to be the same this year) and included headliners such as Empire Of The Sun, Art Vs Science & The Temper Trap.

Either way, with live music acts on TV the broadcast should be much more engaging for a ‘NYE’ audience than in previous years – it now all depends on ABC’s choice of acts and scheduling. If the acts aren’t well known around Australia (even if they are well known to a Triple J audience), the acts may be not worth tuning in for some people causing some minor outrage. In regards to scheduling, if ‘The 2015 Pub Quiz’ is shown largely between 9:08pm and 10:30pm, viewers may tune out and not return until Midnight and thus missing out on the music acts broadcast after 10:30pm. This is just one possible scheduling scenario – the one just mentioned being the worst possible schedule.

More details including precise timings of musical performances are expected to be released by the ABC in the coming weeks.

Adding to this news, the already announced stand alone host of Eddie Perfect & a dedicated ABC3/family-friendly start to the broadcast until the conclusion of the 9pm Family Fireworks should see the broadcast being more family-friendly and removed of the risk of poor chemistry/dynamics between hosts. It could also see the addition of potentially more comedy throughout the broadcast due to Eddie Perfect being the sole host.

ABC though will have to remember that Sydney NYE’s Midnight Fireworks is an event that is universally acclaimed, meaning that children may stay up for the Midnight Fireworks so the ABC has to ensure the whole broadcast is family-friendly regardless of the time slots. Another disappointing aspect is that with an ABC3-dedicated start to the broadcast, there is a slim chance that Sydney NYE’s ‘Welcome To Country’ ceremony will be shown in full again.

In the end, this is just small details of the broadcast. Once the major release of broadcast details occurs, we’ll get a better view of the broadcast but it all comes down to the ABC’s final directing of the broadcast.

Whilst it does not ‘improve’ the ABC’s NYE broadcast regardless, the other new details that the ABC announced include that:

• The broadcast will be filmed on the Sydney Opera House forecourt & at the Lord Mayor’s Party.
• The ‘2015 Pub Quiz’ segments of the broadcast will be hosted by Lawrence Mooney with panellists including Alan Brough, Michala Banas, Emma Alberici, Nazeem Hussain, Luke McGregor and Tom Ballard.
• The broadcast will be available later to watch on iView.

And lastly, remember that currently the only parts of this year’s ABC NYE broadcast that will be seen overseas are of the 9pm Family & Midnight Fireworks.

Vantage spots and parties to celebrate the New Year in Sydney

With Sydney set to throw the world’s most exciting New Year’s Eve party featuring outstanding fireworks displays, Destination NSW reveals some of the city’s best vantage points and parties for revellers to ring in the New Year.

NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres said, “Sydney is the first major city in the world to ring in the New Year. All eyes are on our beautiful Harbour as it comes alive with the biggest New Year’s Eve show in the world.

“Sydney boasts the highest number of spectators to any New Year’s Eve celebration in the world. In 2014/15, an astonishing 1.6 million people lined the shores of Sydney Harbour to view the city’s world famous New Year’s Eve fireworks. In comparison, New York received one million spectators; London received 700,000 and Paris received 100,000^[1],” Mr Ayres said.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase said, “Sydney’s New Year’s Eve celebrations attract visitors from across the country and the globe – all keen to celebrate on Sydney’s beautiful Harbour on a warm summer night. The world’s largest New Year’s Eve spectator celebration is a great way to begin or end a memorable holiday in NSW.”

For those visitors planning their trip to Sydney’s world-renowned New Year’s Eve fireworks, Destination NSW suggests they catch the festivities from one of the following hotspots:

Walsh Bay

Watch the spectacular New Year’s Eve festivities from The Theatre Bar at the End of the Wharf as the sun sets over the glittering waters of Sydney one last time in 2015. Looking at the western façade of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, The Theatre Bar at the End of the Wharf has one of the best vantage points of the fireworks and will play host to a fabulous party serving delicious food, great cocktails and live entertainment. Tickets start at $245 and include gourmet canapés and a glass of sparkling served at midnight.

Barangaroo Reserve

This year, celebrate New Year’s Eve at Sydney’s sensational new harbour headland park, Barangaroo Reserve. The Reserve will offer superb value for a prime view of the iconic Sydney Harbour fireworks and this year’s new illuminations on the western façade of the Harbour Bridge. Gates open at 6.00pm and the site will feature light entertainment, picnic spaces and family-friendly alcohol-free zones, as well as licenced areas. Tickets are priced at $14.50 for children and $29.50 for adults (children aged three and under are free).

The Rocks

Campbell’s Cove, located on Hickson Road north of the Overseas Passenger Terminal, offers front row views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House.  Revellers are advised to arrive early as the area usually closes to new arrivals at around 4.00pm. Admission: Free; Opening times: 8am 31 December to 2am 1 January.

Sydney CBD

Sitting 47 floors above the city and offering 360 degree views from the deck of a revolving restaurant, O Bar and Dining is one of the most exclusive places in Sydney to see in the New Year. Choose to dine in the relaxed tapas lounge or take in Sydney from all angles in the unique circular dining room. The cuisine is based on chef and owner Michael Moore’s healthy eating philosophy and complements an extensive wine list and innovative cocktail menu of modern, classic and vintage drinks. Tickets start at$395.

The Royal Botanic Gardens

The Botanic Gardens Restaurant will host an exquisite garden party this New Year’s Eve with open-air dining and an exclusive vantage point to watch the fireworks. Guests can enjoy French champagne and canapés on arrival, followed by a seven-course degustation menu. Live music will be played all night and a private lawn will provide the perfect spot to witness the harbour fireworks in all their glory. Tickets are priced at $500 per person (18 years+ only).

Mrs Macquaries Point is one of the most popular viewing spots for New Year’s Eve due to the location’s fantastic views of the fireworks displays. This vantage point also offers catering and bar services for purchase. Admission: Free; Opening times: 10am 31 December to 12.30am
1 January.

Sydney Harbour Islands

A new event in 2015, Shark Island will be transformed into an island paradise this New Year’s Eve. Guests will be treated to a South American-inspired party with fabulous food, live music and some of the best views of Sydney Harbour. Dance all night to the sounds of Aussie electronica act Juggernaut DJs (Midnight Juggernauts) and Sydney’s Recess DJs and enjoy a Mexican feast of mouth-watering tacos and burritos at the pop-up taqueira. Tickets start at $160.

Sydney’s four other islands – Fort Denison, Cockatoo Island, Goat Island and Clark Island – offer a range of exciting New Year’s Eve events. For a luxurious evening head to the black-tie event on Fort Denisonfor $1,000 per person or for a more lively celebration book a ticket to enjoy a three-course meal and Garden Party on Clark Island with tickets priced at $375 for adults and $225 for children. Children under five are free.

On the water

For a ‘ferry good view’ of the fireworks jump aboard an iconic Sydney Harbour Ferry for a front row seat of all the fireworks action. This year, the Lady Northcott Ferry will be part of the official Harbour of Lights Parade, the centrepiece of Sydney’s New Year celebrations in which a select group of vessels, adorned in brilliant lights, cruise up and down the centre of the harbour. Guests on the Lady Northcott can pack a picnic to enjoy onboard with tickets starting from $350 for adults and $299 for concession. Alternatively, revellers can stay close to shore and catch the fireworks from the back of a Ferry at Circular Quay. Tickets start at $250 for adults.

A dinner cruise on Sydney Harbour on New Year’s Eve is the ultimate way to welcome in 2016. Enjoy an amazing view of the fireworks from within the Sydney Harbour exclusion zone on a Captain Cook Cruise. Tickets range from $165 per person for the NYE Manly 9pm Fireworks cruise to $995 per person for the first-class NYE Show Deck Dinner.

McMahons Point

Blues Point Reserve is a fantastic location to catch all the New Year’s Eve action. Head to this location early in the day to grab a spot to see the western façade of Sydney Harbour Bridge and the skies above light up. Admission: Free; Opening times: 12pm 31 December to 1am 1 January.

Circular Quay

Welcome in 2016 at a summer beach party in the middle of the city at Opera Bar. With the Harbour Bridge directly in front, the Opera House to one side and the city skyline above, Opera Bar is one of the best spots in Sydney to watch the world-famous fireworks display. Come dressed in beach attire and dance the night away amidst palm trees and harbour views at this inner-city beach party. Kicking off at 6pm, tickets start at $394 and include express VIP entry to the Sydney Opera House, live entertainment and a 5-hour canapé package.

To nab a spot on the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House it’s best to arrive as early as possible as this iconic spot reaches capacity early in the day. Food and drinks are available for purchase onsite.Admission: Free; Opening times: 7.30am 31 December to 2am 1 January.

Milsons Point

Bradfield Park is a popular site for families offering views from the eastern side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It’s one of the best views of both the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.Admission: Free; Opening times: 12pm 31 December to 12.15am 1 January.

Darling Harbour

Viewing spots around Cockle Bay are prized locations and this year will be no exception. With a free program of live music and flame-jet shows, as well as the famous 9pm and Midnight fireworks, Cockle Bay is set to be one of the most exciting, free locations to celebrate the end of 2015. Admission: Free;Opening times: 7am 31 December to 4am 1 January.

While demand is high, revellers can still book a hotel room in the city to ring in the New Year. Accor Hotels reports availability across the group’s portfolio of hotels, including Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, Pullman Hyde Park and Mercure Sydney. But travellers are advised to book fast as hotels will be at 100 per cent capacity on 31 December.

For a full list of Sydney New Year’s Eve vantage points visit www.sydneynewyearseve.com.

For more information on Sydney, visit www.sydney.com.

[1] City of Sydney, “2014 Sydney New Year’s Eve – fireworks facts,” www.sydneymedia.com.au/2014-sydney-new-years-eve-fireworks-fact-sheet/, (December 29, 2014).

Media Release: Destination NSW

As the official charity partner of Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’, Habitat For Humanity Australia are excited to announce their new campaign, Building Hope 2016.

From December 7 – 11, Habitat For Humanity Australia will be in 3 locations around the Sydney Central Business District asking members of the public to fold an origami home and share their hopes for 2016 for those without access to safe and decent housing.

By participating, you will also go into the draw to win an all expenses paid Global Village overseas volunteering experience or 1 of 4 family passes to an invitation-only viewing spot for Sydney New Year’s Eve 2015 – ‘City Of Colour’.

You can also enter online by visiting buildinghope2016.org.au.

Join Habitat For Humanity Australia and help build hope for those in need.

Sydney locations and timings

Monday 7th December – Friday 11th December

• Customs House:  8:30am – 12:30pm
• Wynyard Park: 1:30pm – 5:30pm
• Hyde Park North: 11:00am – 3:00pm

Building Hope 2016 is part of Solid Ground, Habitat For Humanity Australia’s global advocacy campaign, created to address this fundamental issue of access to land for shelter.

Media Release: Habitat For Humanity Australia