Wollongong City Council has put a crucial back-up plan in place for this year's Australia Day fireworks, determined to avoid a repeat of the disappointing New Year's Eve cancellation. The move comes after dangerous ocean conditions scuppered the city's planned NYE celebration.
Learning from New Year's Eve Disappointment
The need for a contingency plan was driven by an unprecedented event on December 31, 2025. Just after 5pm that evening, council officials made the difficult call to cancel the New Year's Eve fireworks display at Belmore Basin. A council spokesperson cited safety concerns due to the height of waves impacting the southern breakwall, the planned launch site, with predictions of conditions worsening.
"Due to the height of waves impacting the breakwall, and the predicted increase leading up to and beyond the scheduled 9pm start-time, it has been determined that the fireworks cannot be safely released," the spokesperson explained at the time. The council confirmed this was the first cancellation in over two decades of using the southern breakwall due to ocean swells.
Flagstaff Hill Steps Up as Plan B
In response, council staff conducted a review to identify alternative launch locations. While the southern breakwall remains the preferred site for the 9pm Australia Day display on January 26, authorities have now secured necessary approvals for Flagstaff Hill to act as an alternate firing point.
"Following the New Year's Eve cancellation, council has also reassessed potential back-up locations," the spokesperson said. "As a result, we've attained necessary approvals for Flagstaff Hill to be an alternate firing location on January 26, should the breakwall become unsuitable."
However, the spokesperson cautioned that the secondary site is not without its own challenges. Flagstaff Hill has specific site constraints and considerations, and officials will be monitoring weather conditions closely in the lead-up to the event.
Why a Last-Minute Switch Was Impossible on NYE
The council has also shed light on why simply moving the New Year's Eve display at the last minute was not feasible. Relocating a large-scale fireworks show is a complex operation that cannot be done on a whim.
"Moving fireworks displays of this scale is a complex process," the spokesperson emphasised. The procedure involves multiple critical steps:
- Re-rigging the fireworks themselves.
- Updating risk assessments and licence approvals.
- Establishing new safety exclusion zones.
- Implementing revised road closure plans.
- Updating detailed crowd management strategies.
Council officials stated that these steps typically require at least 24 hours' notice to be executed safely and successfully, a timeline that was impossible given the late deterioration of conditions on December 31.
In a small silver lining for spectators, the upcoming Australia Day fireworks will feature a handful of additional pyrotechnics salvaged from the cancelled New Year's Eve show. The council's proactive planning demonstrates a commitment to delivering a safe and spectacular celebration for the Illawarra community, come rain, shine, or swell.
