Celebrations to ring in the new year have begun around Australia with most of the country shaping up to 2023 with good weather.
More than a million spectators are flocking to Sydney for the city’s first New Year’s Eve fireworks display since the pandemic began almost three years ago.
Preparations are underway for fireworks in Adelaide’s CBD but South Australian fire services are urging the public to leave the pyrotechnics to the experts this New Year’s celebration.
The Country Fire Service (CFS) said firefighters have been responding to a number of large grass fires since Christmas.
“With dangerous fire days predicted to continue over the next week, illegal fireworks increase the chance of a bushfire starting, putting communities at risk,” CFS chief officer Brett Loughlin said.
Across the nation, temperatures reached the high 20s today, with showers clearing in Sydney and Brisbane.
New South Wales
New Year’s Eve revellers descended on vantage points around Sydney Harbour early morning in anticipation of the fireworks — the first without COVID-19 restrictions since the pandemic began.
Many waited for hours at ticketed locations for gates to open by napping, eating snacks and turning to their mobile phones for distraction.
At the Opera House, one of the most sought-after locations, people rushed to claim free spots and set in for the long wait. By 10am the area had reached capacity.
“We arrived at something like 7:30am, it was very hard to wait,” a reveller at the Opera House forecourt said.
“It’s going to be a long day but it’s going to be the most famous event that we’ve seen.”
As one of the first major cities in the world to ring in 2023, it is also estimated that half-a-billion people globally will tune into to the broadcast.
At a park in Sydney’s inner-west, a Japanese tourist told the ABC she had travelled from Cairns to watch the fireworks.
“This is my dream, it’s so famous in Japan. It’s come true,” she said.
Tonight’s celebrations will kick off with a smoking ceremony around the harbour, followed by the 9pm fireworks which has been curated by First Nations artists Carmen Glynn-Braun and Dennis Golding from Re-Right Collective in partnership with Gadigal artist Nadeena Dixon and Foti International Fireworks.
The midnight show will burn through eight tonnes of pyrotechnics with more than 7,000 fireworks to be launched from various locations across the harbour and CBD including the Harbour Bridge.
Queensland
Crowds are starting to gather along the Brisbane River to get a vantage point for the evening’s fireworks, at 8:30pm and midnight.
Queensland Ambulance assistant commissioner Tony Armstrong said the service had prepared for “one of the biggest events on the calendar” by rostering on an extra 270 paramedics and emergency medical dispatchers.
“To ensure we respond to the community in a timely manner. We expect a busy night,” he said.
“We do see increase incidents this time of year of drug and alcohol-related incidents.”
Public transport across South-East Queensland will be free from 8pm until 5.30am on January 1 — excluding the AirTrain, long-distance travel and on-demand services.
There are also extra buses in rotation from 6pm on the Gold Coast, 7pm on the Sunshine Coast and 8.30pm in Brisbane.
“And, of course, extra train services from 8.30pm across southeast Queensland to ensure that people are able to get home safely and in a timely manner,” acting transport minister Leanne Enoch said.
Beachgoers at Mooloolaba said they were enjoying the atmosphere.
“It’s bloody amazing. We couldn’t wipe the smiles from our faces,” Sunshine Coast local, Shanice Johnson said.
She said she would be having a quieter New Year’s Eve than usual after welcoming a baby eight months ago, and was looking forward to the fireworks display.
“Happy New Year’s everyone, I hope that you have a safe new year and everyone just enjoys themselves.”
Northern Territory
But Darwin’s official fireworks and concert have been cancelled due to severe weather across the Top End.
The Darwin Waterfront Corporation cited safety concerns when delivering the dampening news on Saturday morning.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued warnings for potentially damaging winds of up to 90 kilometres per hour on Friday.
Rainfall totals of up to 80mm were recorded in the greater Darwin area over the past 24 hours, with the rain and wind set to continue all weekend.
Victoria
Crowds are gathering at four celebration zones where there is free entertainment in Melbourne’s city, with family-friendly fireworks starting at 9:30pm.
More than 400,000 people are expected to head into the city tonight.
Thirty CBD rooftops will be used to launch Melbourne’s fireworks, up from 22 last year. The shows will also feature laser technology.
Melburnians are also celebrating the early reopening of all lanes of the West Gate Bridge at 9pm, ending days of major traffic delays on the crucial link between two sides of the city.
With free metropolitan and regional public transport running until 6am, people coming into the city are being urged to leave their cars at home for the night.
Thousands of police are patrolling Melbourne’s CBD and foreshore, as well as regional centres and key holiday destinations.
There will also be early fireworks on Geelong’s waterfront and in Mildura, ahead of the midnight shows.
Ballarat and Bendigo are among other regional centres hosting free events in Victoria.
Australian Capital Territory
Crowds are building on the foreshores of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra.
Plenty of families and picnickers are making the most of the good weather, with DJs, food trucks and plenty of entertainment to help ring in the New Year.
Police have a big presence tonight, and have said, as well as keeping crowds safe this New Year’s Eve, they will be targeting illegal firework usage in the suburbs after a reported spike from Christmas Eve.
Tasmania
Thousands of people have descended to the Hobart waterfront to ring in the new year.
Locals and visitors from far-flung places have turned out in droves to make the most of the nice weather.
Those who snagged a ticket to the Taste of Summer New Year’s Eve Party can feast on food and drinks from over 80 stalls set up at Princes Wharf No. 1.
Local musicians have been treating the audience to live music throughout the evening, and with big ticket act Darryl Braithwaite set to hit the stage at 10 o’clock.
There will also be two fireworks displays beginning at 9.30pm and another at midnight.
Tasmania Police said they will have a heightened presence in entertainment precincts and on the roads across the state to ensure people celebrate responsibly.
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