Sydney's iconic New Years Eve celebrations had a $7 million price tag, according to Lord Mayor Clover Moore, who says it was the council's gift to the city and an "excellent investment".
Ms Moore declared the event a success, adding it was worth about $130 million to the local economy.
"We think it's really worth it, really worth it to provide a focus and an opportunity for people to come together," she said.
The massive crowds that swarmed to the harbour for the festivities were largely well behaved in the face of a massive police presence.
More than a million people are estimated to have descended on the city centre prompting NSW Police to deploy thousands of officers to every corner of the CBD.
Roads were shut and revellers were corralled through checkpoints and barricades in the lead-up to the midnight fireworks.
Horse-mounted police, canine units and riot squads supported officers in what was designed to be a "high-visibility" deterrent to anti-social behaviour or terrorist attacks.
By 2am police had arrested seven people for assaulting officers and a further six for other offences including fighting.
"With only a small number of incidents occurring throughout the night, it is a credit to the community and the work of police and other agencies," Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton said as the crowds filtered out of the city.
One of the few notable events happened just before midnight when a 17-year-old teenage boy sustained serious burns after a firework exploded in the city's north.
"It does show the dangers of fireworks," NSW Deputy Commissioner Jeff Loy said.
"They're certainly an explosive and they can have dire consequences if not used in a proper way."
