Shellharbour City Council faces a potential financial hit if bad weather forces cancellation of its planned New Year's Eve drone show. The council has budgeted $258,000 for a 500-strong drone display at Shell Cove, with $140,000 in sponsorship already secured, leaving $118,000 to be funded from council coffers.
According to a report for Tuesday night's council meeting, the drone show is at risk of cancellation in winds over 28 km/h, heavy rain, or if the Bureau of Meteorology issues a severe storm warning for Shell Cove. If cancelled, the rest of the New Year's Eve festivities could still proceed.
The drone operator can reschedule the show at no extra cost within three months, but the council would incur additional costs for infrastructure and event delivery. Postponing to a new date at Shell Cove would add $173,000 to the budget, while holding it at Reddall Reserve would cost $168,000.
Councillors will consider options including event insurance to reduce the financial risk. The report notes that the cancellation thresholds were not reached on New Year's Eve for the past three years, suggesting favourable weather is likely.
