Wollongong City Council has ordered a formal review into the last-minute cancellation of the city's New Year's Eve fireworks display, with a key focus on why no contingency plan was in place when dangerous ocean swells inundated the launch site.
Wave Washes Over Breakwall, Forces Cancellation
The planned 9pm spectacle for thousands of spectators was called off at approximately 5:50pm on December 31, after a large wave washed over the breakwall at Wollongong Harbour. The wave directly hit the crew from Fireworks Australia who were setting up the pyrotechnic display. Council officials and eyewitnesses reported seeing some fireworks equipment washed into the harbour.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown confirmed the incident, stating she had received "anecdotal reports" of the equipment being washed off the breakwall. "I do understand they did get inundated," Cr Brown told the Illawarra Mercury. "So this is part of the reason why they couldn't be used."
The council cited "dangerous ocean swells impacting Wollongong Harbour" as the official reason for cancellation, a decision made in consultation with emergency services and the fireworks contractor. As wave size increased through the evening, the call was widely seen as necessary for public safety.
Review to Scrutinise Lack of Contingency Plan
The subsequent review, ordered by Council General Manager Greg Doyle, will specifically investigate the absence of a backup plan. Many residents have questioned why there was no alternative launch site less vulnerable to coastal conditions.
"The general manager has asked the staff to review what happened and report back to him," Lord Mayor Brown said. She confirmed the review would cover "the contingencies, and looking at whether there are other locations that could be used." This includes examining if a Plan B site should have been established.
Cr Brown has also asked for the investigation to determine whether the large swell had been accurately forecast. "There wasn't an ocean swell warning, not that I'm aware of," she noted. The NSW government's Port Kembla observation buoy was out of service from December 30, but data from neighbouring buoys showed a rapidly growing swell that afternoon, prompting a later Bureau of Meteorology hazardous surf warning.
Safety Paramount After Previous Tragedies
The decision-makers were acutely aware of the location's history. Two men have died at the spot in recent years after being washed off the breakwall by large waves—one in October 2023 and another in April 2025.
"I think safety does come first, and when we've had a fisherman drown there within the last year, this is not a site to be treated lightly," Cr Brown emphasised. "We certainly didn't want any of the pyrotechnic engineers to be putting themselves in danger."
Despite the disappointment for the gathered crowds, the Lord Mayor reported that the public mood was understanding. "People could see the waves crashing over the breakwall, so they understood why it was unsafe to proceed—and the vibe was still pretty good," she said after visiting the harbour on the night.
Fireworks Australia managing director Martin Brady declined to comment, referring all enquiries to Wollongong City Council. The review's findings are now awaited by council officials and the Wollongong community alike.
