Melbourne will throw a $3 million New Year’s Eve party in the centre of the city that is expected to attract more than half a million people.
Melbourne City Council’s New Year’s fireworks display will include 22 firing sites, including 16 rooftops, and will run for 10-minutes at a cost of $341,000.
There will be four key live viewing areas this year, with Kings Domain near the Sidney Myer Music Bowl added to Docklands, Flagstaff Gardens and Treasury Garden.
Entertainment at the four sites will run from 9pm to 1am and will include DJs, a multimedia show and a countdown to midnight – from 100, rather than 10 – will feature images of Melbourne.
There will also be 9.30pm family fireworks at Yarra Park and Maribyrnong City Council will run a simultaneous 9.30pm fireworks show at Footscray Park.
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said New Year’s Eve made him exited and nervous, with a crowd of 550,000 expected.
He said seven and half tonnes of fireworks would be set off at midnight.
“It will create a whole carpet of wonderful fireworks to bring in the New Year,” Cr Doyle said.
Cr Doyle said he would try a couple of the live sites on the night and finish up on the roof of town hall to enjoy the show.
He said there would be a large police presence in the city on the night and it was an alcohol free event.
“It is a huge operation,” he said.
“Our number one priority is to keep people safe,” he said.
Cr Doyle said if people can see the city skyline they will be able to enjoy the fireworks.
He encouraged people not to drive in with public transport free on the night. He said all loop stations were open on the way in, but from 11.45pm only Southern Cross and Flinders Street would be open.
