New Year’s Eve fireworks have been cancelled in Canberra after a total fire ban was put in place.
The displays were intended to take place at 9pm and midnight in the city’s Civic Square on Tuesday.
Events ACT announced the show would not go ahead on Sunday.
‘Fireworks at the New Year’s Eve in the City event has been cancelled due to the Total Fire Ban declaration,’ a social media post said.
Fireworks in Canberra have been cancelled for New Year’s Eve – but Sydney’s are set to go ahead
The displays were intended to take place at 9pm and midnight in the city’s Civic Square on Tuesday. Events ACT announced the show would not go ahead on Sunday
Performances are still set to go ahead at this stage.
A total fire ban was put in place after the Bureau of Meterology warned of ‘hot, dry and windy’ conditions.
Temperatures are expected to hit a maximum on 39C on Monday and a top of 38C on Tuesday in Canberra, with smoke haze expected in the evening.
ACT Emergency Services Agency commissioner, Georgeina Whelan, told the ABC it was a ‘sensible’ decision.
Canberra’s cancellation comes after The City Of Sydney announced the firework display in Sydney Harbour will go ahead despite concerns over bushfires.
‘Preparations began 15 months ago which means that most of the budget, largely used for crowd safety and cleansing measures, has already been spent,’ local government spokeswoman Tanya Goldberg said on Sunday.
However, NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons refused to rule out calling off the fireworks at the last minute.
NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons refused to rule out calling off the fireworks at the last minute
‘If I determine it to be too risky, that doesn’t concern me,’ Mr Fitzsimmons said.
‘The pyrotechnics organisations and local authorities are used to working with us around exemptions in the summer period, whether it is Christmas, New Year or some other event.’
He said those organisations know the procedures and everyone will work together.
New South Wales Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the display should be cancelled on Monday.
‘Sydney’s New Years Eve Fireworks should just be canceled, very easy decision,’he tweeted.
‘The risk is too high and we must respect our exhausted RFS volunteers. If regional areas have had fireworks banned, then let’s not have two classes of citizens.
New South Wales Deputy Premier John Barilaro tweeted on Monday he believes the display should be cancelled
‘We’re all in this crisis together.’
Some communities have decided to cancel or postpone their fireworks displays, including Armidale in the state’s northern tablelands and Huskisson on the south coast.
The debate over whether to cancel the firework display is over concerns about the impact it will have on the bushfire crisis that has gripped the state.
The Rural Fire Service on Monday said 911 homes had been destroyed in NSW to date, along with 72 facilities and more than 2,000 outbuildings.
The debate over whether to cancel the firework display is over concerns about the impact it will have on the bushfire crisis that has gripped the state. Pictured: Green Wattle Creek Fire on December 5
More than 350 homes around the state have suffered some damage.
The Bureau of Meteorology says temperatures have started to build and will climb past 40C in western Sydney and parts of regional NSW by Tuesday.
Air pollution in southwest Sydney, close to the Green Wattle Creek blaze, is at a hazardous level. The NSW environment department says the haze is ‘unhealthy for sensitive people’, particularly those with heart or lung diseases.
Northwest Sydney air quality is also hazardous, while in east Sydney, it is poor.
The Rural Fire Service on Monday said 911 homes had been destroyed in NSW to date, along with 72 facilities and more than 2,000 outbuildings. Green Wattle Creek Fire on December 19
The Currowan fire on the NSW south coast – now almost 220,000 hectares in size – is causing particular worry and expected to threaten homes.
Severe fire danger ratings are in place on Monday for the southern Riverina, southern slopes, Monaro alpine region, southern ranges and far south coast.
Total fire bans are also in place for large chunks of eastern and southern NSW, including greater Sydney, greater Hunter and Illawarra-Shoalhaven.
Those with plans to travel through or stay in bushfire-prone areas have been advised to assess the risk and potentially revise their plans.