Advertisement

Sydney's iconic NYE fireworks display cancelled – again

Sydney's iconic New Years' Eve family fireworks display has been cancelled for the second year in a row, due to Covid-19.

Despite NSW set to open up again in the coming weeks, the City of Sydney has made the decision to cancel the 9pm fireworks display, the “harbour of light parade” and the lord mayor’s picnic due to the concerns surrounding Covid-19.

A leaked email, which was reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, from the City of Sydney to stakeholders, detailed that the midnight fireworks display will still take place, but will be “centred around Circular Quay and the inner harbour only”.

The fireworks display has been cancelled for the second year in a row. Source: AP Photo
The fireworks display has been cancelled for the second year in a row. Source: AP Photo

Crowd arrangements for the event are still being decided.

City of Sydney crowd and traffic manager Lauren Schwabe wrote: "This format will allow Sydney New Year’s Eve to remain resilient in the face of continuing uncertainty and help stakeholders, businesses and visitors formulate their plans."

“We will continue to work with the NSW government to assess the impact of the pandemic on the event. The operational requirements of the event, including crowd densities and capacities, are still being determined, with multiple scenarios being developed.”

A council spokesman confirmed with the Herald that the 9pm display has been cancelled due to the crossover of crowds between shows.

“In the current climate, limiting this mixing of crowds will ensure the event can be managed in the most Covid-19 safe way for all attendees and staff.”

NSW lockdown to end at 70 per cent fully vaccinated

Fully vaccinated people will benefit from a raft of significant changes when 70 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated, which NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says is in line with the Doherty Institute plan.

Major changes include:

  • Five vaccinated visitors allowed into your home

  • 20 vaccinated people can gather outdoors

  • Hospitality venues will be able to open with a density limit of one person per four square metres

  • Density limits for outdoor hospitality settings will be at one person per two square metres outdoors

  • Patrons will be able to stand and drink while outside

  • Retail will reopen with density limits, with unvaccinated people only able to access critical retail

  • Gyms will reopen with one person per four square metres and classes of 20 can resume

  • Sporting facilities including pools to reopen

  • Stadiums and outdoor facilities to allow a maximum of 5,000 people in accordance with one person per four square metres

  • Up to 50 guests at weddings and funerals

  • Domestic travel, including to regional NSW, will be allowed

The premier said once 80 per cent of the state was fully vaccinated, even further freedoms would be granted such as the possibility of international travel.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.