Kiama Council’s decision to cancel the New Year’s Eve fireworks unless a sponsor can come to the rescue has sparked a backlash but Mayor Cameron McDonald is still hopeful they can go ahead.

Local community groups will miss out on their annual chance to raise much-needed funds at the event while business operators are likely to see a downturn in revenue on the day where thousands of visitors flock to Kiama to see the iconic fireworks display.

Councillor Yasmin Tatrai has expressed her personal disappointment in the decision to approve the budget at last week’s Council meeting which has left Destination Kiama staff in a position where they have just a few months to find external investment to fund the fireworks or they will be cancelled.

“I regret the recent the Council decision to not allocate $95,000 for New Year's Eve fireworks,” Cr Tatrai told The Bugle.

“Although the decision has been made to prioritise local events over this cherished tradition, I feel hoodwinked by the choice to overlook what is arguably the most important night of the year for our community.

“I fear this could be devastating for both the local community and the tourism economy.

“New Year’s Eve is a time for locals and visitors to come together and celebrate, and given Council’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the night economy, it is disheartening to see the significance of this pivotal celebration diminished.

“The fireworks are not just a festivity, they represent an opportunity to showcase the vibrancy of Kiama and attract visitors.”

Fellow Councillor Mike Cains hoped that a solution can be found to ensure the fireworks remain an integral part of the local New Year’s Eve celebrations.

“Like many people in the community, I'm disappointed that we've got to a point where the fireworks are essentially in jeopardy,” he said.

“So many of us have taken our kids to watch the fireworks at nine o'clock every single year and then some of us have stayed on till midnight.

“It's been a regular occasion on the calendar that has meant a lot to locals. I think there's a lot of people that are quite sad to see it go.

“I can't believe that we can't find a way through whether that is by attracting sponsorship, having a VIP tent or creating a business model around it.

“I can't believe that there isn't a solution that we can adopt to get us to the point where it's not going to be a financial millstone around the neck of Council.

“So I'm confident we can get there and I'll be disappointed if we can't find a way through.”

Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald on Wednesday launched an appeal for sponsors to come forward with an Expression of Interest form placed on the Council wesbite in a bid to attract corporate support by 13 July.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to partner with Council, give back to the community and promote your business across the entire Illawarra region,” Cr McDonald said.

“We’re on track to break even in our budget for 2026–27, and this is just one of many important decisions we’ve had to make to ensure Council is fiscally responsible.

“As one of Australia’s largest regional fireworks events, Kiama’s NYE Sky Show gets an enormous amount of publicity and attracts up to 20,000 attendees. Now we’re offering a golden opportunity to put your name to this signature event.

“I encourage local businesses and stakeholders to fill out our expression of interest form, or simply pick up the phone to speak to us about how you can be involved.”