Latest news with #BradfieldPark
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
MAJOR change considered for world-famous New Year's Eve fireworks that could see Aussies fork out for the event
Revellers hoping to score a front-row seat to Sydney 's iconic New Year's Eve fireworks could be told to pay $50 for the privilege. North Sydney Council is considering a proposal for one of the city's most popular vantage points to be transformed into a ticketed zone. The plan, set to be debated at a meeting on Monday, would introduce paid access to Blues Point Reserve. The site regularly draws thousands on December 31, offering a harbourside view of the midnight and 9pm fireworks shows. Access to Blues Point, Bradfield Park and Lavender Bay is currently free with the council covering the cost of crowd safety, traffic control, waste management and event infrastructure. But amid growing financial pressures, councillors are being asked to consider ticketing as a way to gain back some of the expenses. A report to the council estimated the total cost of staging the event at $1.086million. Introducing ticketing at Blues Point alone would add another $95,000 in expenses for staffing, scanners, security and public communications, bringing the overall cost to $1.181million. But with 8,000 tickets sold at $50 each, the proposal said the council could generate $400,000 in revenue, reducing its net expenditure to $781,000. Supporters have argued ticketing would guarantee attendees a spot at a premium location and help ease congestion, especially the dawn queues that have become more frequent in recent years. But the move has sparked concerns over fairness and public access. Critics have warned that charging for an event traditionally free to the public could tarnish the council's reputation and spark backlash over monetising public land. The council's report identified potential risks, such as fake ticket scams, disruptions to entry scanning from mobile data dropouts, and frustration from patrons anticipating amenities the ticket does not include. A similar ticketing trial at Blues Point in 2018 saw mixed results. While most ticketholders rated the experience highly, many residents and local businesses were less impressed, citing reduced access, a drop in foot traffic, and equity concerns. A community survey conducted at the time found no clear consensus, though among those who supported ticketing, full cost recovery was the preferred model. The council is now considering three options: ticketing all three sites to fully recover the $1.2million cost, ticketing Blues Point only as a partial recovery model, or maintaining the current system of free, managed access. Staff have recommended the second option as a 'balanced' compromise, preserving free access at two major sites while recouping costs at the most in-demand location. If approved, the $50 ticket would be trialled this December, followed by community consultation before any long-term policy is introduced.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
North Sydney Council to debate ticketed access to three New Year's Eve observation spots
Revellers taking in Sydney's legendary New Year's Eve fireworks show could soon have to shell out $50 to access a prime viewing spot in a major shake-up to how tourists and locals experience the beloved event. North Sydney councillors will decide next week whether to implement 'ticketed access' to Blues Point, a popular vantage point that fronts Sydney Harbour and the Harbour Bridge. The council area boasts three renowned vantage points for the show, namely Bradfield Park, Lavender Bay and Blues Point, with thousands of punters descending on the spots on December 31 to take in the party. But a new report, which will be debated at the council's Monday night meeting, recommends councillors establish an introductory $50 ticket price for Blues Point to recoup costs associated with New Year's Eve. 'The current budget for NYE is $1,086,000,' the report states. 'To introduce ticketing at Blues Point only, additional costs of approximately $95,000 would be incurred including contract staff, equipment, and additional communications support. This would result in a total cost of $1,181,000. 'If 8000 tickets were sold to access Blues Point at $50 per ticket, this would generate $400,000 in revenue, reducing council's net expenditure to manage NYE crowds to circa $781,000.' At the moment, access to all three sites is free. Council costs for the event include providing toilets and bins and crowd and traffic management. Bradfield Park sits just below the northern end of the Harbour Bridge, close to Kirribilli House, while Lavender Bay sits between the park and Blues Point. The report acknowledges introducing tickets could cause some consternation in the community. 'Ticketing for an event which has been free of charge could see large numbers of non-ticket holders arriving at the sites, potentially manifesting in unsettled behaviour near entry gates, dissatisfaction voiced to staff on the ground or complaints to council's customer service centre,' the report states. 'This can be managed by regular, targeted communications in the lead-up to the event, along with well-planned operations and thorough briefing of staff prior to the event.' The countdown and fireworks is a hugely popular draw for both Sydneysiders and tourists from across the world. British tourist Ben Scammell, speaking after the 2023-24 show, told NewsWire that he was overawed and did not have words for the spectacle he witnessed. 'That was just … I don't have words for it,' he told said. 'It made the whole coming to Australia so much worth it … it was the pinnacle. 'That moment will last my whole lifetime.' The first batch of fireworks to mark the start of a new year explodes over Sydney Harbour at 9pm, with a second batch at midnight. Hundreds of thousands of people cram into the CBD and North Sydney to witness the show. The report to North Sydney Council outlines three options for the 2025-26 event. Option 1 involves ticketing across all three spots to achieve 'full cost recovery'. Option 2 involves 'partial cost recovery', with ticketing limited to Blues Point, and Option 3 involves continuing with 'free managed access'. The report recommends the councillors trial option 2. 'Subject to community consultation and feedback following NYE 2025-26, council could then decide whether to change the ticket price for future NYE managed access, expand or maintain the number of ticketed locations or return to free-access options for all managed sites,' the report states.
