Every year the Sydney fireworks display is a New Year's Eve highlight viewed around the world. And this year is likley to be no different, with more pyrotechnics and a tribute to the late 'Queen of Soul', Aretha Franklin. Sydney will - with a total of 8.5 tonnes of fireworks set to blast into the sky to mark the beginning of 2019. That's 500 kilograms - half a tonne - more than last year, and organisers are using some of the biggest barges ever to carry and launch the sparkling explosives.
According to the state tourism bureau, Destination New South Wales, the spectacle is Australia's largest public event of the year and brings in $133 million annually for the local economy. But with more than one million people expected to descend on the city's CBD on Monday night, police will be on high alert. Assistant commissioner Mark Walton says New Year's Eve is a major security operation.
"The public will see blockages on the roadways, they will see very early traffic management plans to keep traffic away from our crowds. As with every New Year's Eve, we know people are there to celebrate, they will be on the drink, what we ask is people drink in moderation."
Heavy-duty bollards, trucks, cars, buses and armed police will form a protected boundary around New Year’s Eve revellers, not just in Sydney but in all of Australia's capital cities.
Melbourne preperations
In Melbourne, where displays, and crowds, are also predicted to be bigger than ever, Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton has a similar message.
"There'll be a highly visible, highly strong and firm Victoria Police presence. We will be out there in force, and will be making sure people behave appropriately."
In the Victorian capital, the fireworks display has been designed to be viewed from a distance, and the entire display will cover seven square kilometres of the CBD. Design work started in March for the 10-minute show, set to the music of Indigenous rapper Adam Briggs.
Adelaide Oval will host its traditional new year's eve Big Bash cricket fixture, while in Brisbane, a fireworks display will light up the sky above South Bank.
