Kiama is not the only local government Council struggling to meet the costs of staging fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

North Sydney Council voted earlier this week to bring in “ticketed access” for revellers who want to sit at Blues Point this year to watch Sydney’s fireworks.

That means they will be charged $50 for the privilege of sitting at the popular vantage point to watch the fireworks that light up Sydney Harbour Bridge and the city’s skyline.

The area attracts thousands of people every year and North Sydney Mayor Zoe Baker said by introducing paid ticketing, the Council is aiming to “partially recover event costs while managing crowd safety and logistics”.

North Sydney Council is seeking NSW Government support and may reconsider going ahead with the ticketing if funding is provided from the Minns Government.

They estimate that they could raise a profit of $305,000 by selling 8000 tickets once operating costs are factored into the equation.

“It is with an exceptionally heavy heart that I find myself supporting the motion for one year only. We have inherited a really precarious financial position that has not been relieved by our seeking a special rate variation,” Mayor Baker said.

“If you cannot afford a ticket for Blues Point, then I’d urge you to go to Bradfield Park, to Mary Booth Lookout, to Kurraba Point, to Cremorne Point, to Waverton, to Carradah Park and every other vantage point to see the fireworks on public land for free.”

News of North Sydney’s decision reached Kiama Council and it is understood that selling tickets to the Black Beach Old School Flat area is one of the many options that staff have been considering in trying to keep the

Kiama fireworks display from going up in smoke.

The cost of fencing off the area could be prohibitive though and it would be unlikely that it could be arranged for this year’s fireworks if they go ahead.

There is also the problem of potential community backlash if Council opted to charge revellers to help solve a financial issue that has been brought about by the Performance Improvement Order that was issued due to the previous administration’s governance issues.

When the 2025-26 budget was passed at the June council meeting, Councillors unanimously voted for funding to be withdrawn for the fireworks.

The fireworks display costs Council around $90,000 to deliver but it reaps significant financial benefits to local businesses.

Council recently put the call out to the private sector in the hope of securing sufficient sponsorship, with the help of Kiama Business Network, so that the New Year’s Eve Sky Show could go ahead.

Mayor Cameron McDonald said Council had received several expressions of interest from potential sponsors.

Time is running out for Council to make a call on whether the fireworks will go ahead and after a series of talks with Destination Kiama, a final decision is expected to be made at this month’s Council meeting on 19 August.

Councillor Melinda Lawton recently told The Bugle that there was divided opinion in the community over the fireworks funding issue.

“There are people who don’t want them because they scare their animals, there’s people who think the money could be spent on other things that are of more lasting value and then there’s people who love getting together and celebrating out with the old and in with the new and it’s a significant time in people’s lives,” she said.

“I’m hopeful that we can find a sponsor. I think we’ll find that we’ll actually get there.”

Destination Kiama chair, Councillor Matt Brown said if they had been given more time to arrange alternative financial arrangements it would have made it much easier to ensure the fireworks display would go ahead.