When 14 tonnes of fireworks shoot into the sky over Melbourne to ring in the New Year, head designer Rusty Johnson will shed a tear.
Months of planning have gone into the show that includes 8300 aerial fireworks and more than 36,500 rooftop effects being fired from 22 CBD buildings.
Melburnians can expect a "unique" show - nowhere else in the world will have fireworks ranging from the classics to new spider shells and flying dragons being fired over a whopping seven square kilometres, Mr Johnson says.
"Anywhere you can see that city skyline you've got the best view of it," Mr Johnson said.
"It's a big challenge, it's a hard job, but when we strike midnight I'll have a tear in my eye."
Flying dragons that explode into swirls, crackling dragon eggs that go off with an incredibly loud explosion and crackle, and spider shells that scuttle across buildings and weave a web across the skyline are among this year's new effects.
Rainbow fans in a trio of colours and Saturn rings will also be seen for the first time over Melbourne.
The innovative 10-minute show has an indigenous theme and is set to a backing track by Australian rapper and hip-hop artist Adam Briggs that will be broadcast on 99.7FM.
More than 350,000 revellers are expected to flock to the city to welcome the new year at riverside bars and parties, and from four family friendly live sites.
Entertainment, food trucks and firework vantage points are open until 1am in Kings Domain, Docklands, Treasury Gardens and Flagstaff Gardens.
There's also a 9.30am fireworks display in Yarra Park for little ones who might struggle to stay awake for the main event.
All up, the celebrations are set to cost $3.4 million, but Melbourne's Lord Mayor Sally Capp expects the night to bring in more than $8.6 million for the local economy.
Security is the biggest expense on the night when police numbers on the beat are expected to swell up to 30 times the norm.
They're not out to be the 'anti-party police', they just want revellers to use common sense, Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said.
"We'd be urging people with their friends and family to look after each other, because we don't want them to be waking up the next day with regret about something that could change them for the rest of their lives," he said.
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