New Years Eve fireworks in Melbourne slammed as lacklustre as Sydney display dazzles

Melbourne’s New Years Eve fireworks have been slammed as lacklustre and underwhelming compared to Sydney’s triumphant display.

Thousands of spectators were left disappointed after watching the brief display over the Bolte Bridge along the Yarra River on Friday night.

Spectators said the show of pyrotechnics drew boos from some parts of the crowd with enthusiasm fizzling out as quickly as the fireworks. 

Residents have taken to social media to vent their frustration with some labelling it the ‘worst fireworks display ever’.  

The disappointing display came as Sydney staged its biggest show of pyrotechnics since the start of the pandemic 

‘Good lord Melbourne, I’ve done bigger fireworks displays from my backyard in Thornbury,’ one person wrote.

Another person added: ‘Two hundred and sixty two days of lockdown and our NYE fireworks was not only an embarrassment, but a kick in the guts to everyone one of us.’ 

The disappointing display came as Sydney staged its biggest show of pyrotechnics since the start of the pandemic.

Organisers were determined to hold a major NYE display with six tonnes of fireworks deployed – around 2,000 individual fireworks – for the midnight celebration watched by millions worldwide.

The arresting display lasted 12 minutes and dazzled spectators, leaving them on a high note for the new year.

Melbourne residents were quick to pick up on the difference scale of the firework displays and shared footage comparing the two.

Footage of the fireworks in Sydney show the entire harbour being lit up with fireworks with a colourful display painting the sky above the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Video of Melbourne’s display shows the centre of Bolte Bridge lit up with visibly fewer fireworks and plenty of less colour in the sky.

Thousands of spectators were left disappointed after watching the brief display over the Bolte Bridge along the Yarra River on Friday night

Spectators said the show of pyrotechnics drew boos from some parts of the crowd with enthusiasm fizzling out as quickly as the fireworks

Residents have taken to social media to vent their frustration with some labelling it the ‘worst fireworks display ever’

‘Good lord Melbourne, I’ve done bigger fireworks displays from my backyard in Thornbury,’ one person wrote

Residents directed their anger over the fireworks display toward Lord Mayor Sally Capp.

‘How could you possibly think this was acceptable!!’ one person wrote. ‘You embarrassed Melbourne!

‘City of Sydney as usual smashed us and their fireworks were televised globally.’

Another social media user added: ‘See in Sydney, they have this world famous fireworks display for NYE, so it often leads the news here in NSW and across the world. 

‘Unlike in Melbourne, where their fireworks display amounts to a few sparklers over the tepid, muddied river running through the city.’

Ms Capp has defended the fireworks dismissing claims it was the ‘worst fireworks display ever’.

‘That’s just not something I accept,’ she said. ‘I think that it’s the best Covid-safe fireworks display we’ve ever had, remembering that we didn’t have fireworks at all in 2020.

‘We made it abundantly clear in the weeks leading into New Year’s Eve they would be localised fireworks displays.

‘We really did everything we could to make sure that people join us in the city in a Covid-safe way.’  

Footage of the fireworks in Sydney show the entire harbour being lit up with fireworks with a colourful display painting the sky above the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge 

Residents directed their anger over the fireworks display to lord mayor Sally Capp