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Sydney prepares for 'epic' NYE fireworks

Sydney is gearing up for its famous New Year's Eve fireworks display with more than one million revellers expected around the harbour to bring in the new year.

Fireworks being prepared for Sydney's New Year's Eve celebrations.
Over a million people are expected to watch Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks. (AAP)

Sydney is gearing up for an "epic" New Year's Eve fireworks display which will feature a tribute to the late queen of soul Aretha Franklin and Australia's famous landscapes.

More than one million revellers are expected around the city's harbour on Monday with this year's $5.78 million show including more than 100,000 individual pyrotechnics, 8.5 tonnes of fireworks and 35,000 shooting comets.

Drawing on the theme, The Pulse of Sydney, the fireworks display will pulsate in gold, silver and purple to (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, made famous by Franklin, who died in August this year.

City of Sydney spokeswoman Anna McInerney said New Year's Eve is the perfect time to reflect on the year that's been and to honour the much loved queen of soul.

Australia's iconic landscapes will also be celebrated with an animation inspired by Aussie music anthem Great Southern Land to play on the bridge pylons at 11pm, before an even bigger fireworks display lights the city's skies at midnight.

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Australia's indigenous heritage will also be honoured with a series of animated projections of water, birds, fish and plants.

Summer will also be celebrated with new lime and peach colours and there will be an extra 1000 effects coming off the bridge including heart-shaped fireworks and a smiley-face.

The company behind the fireworks soundtracks said the tunes will set the mood for the night and will end with a bang.

"If there's one thing that can always be counted on with the New Year's fireworks display, it's the big finale ... Revellers can expect the fireworks to finish with something epic," Imagination director Heath Campanaro said in a statement.

Security will be beefed up across the harbour city with uniformed and plain clothed police as well as specialist teams in force to keep partygoers safe.

NSW Police have warned they will be monitoring crowds closely and sites will be closed once at capacity to prevent overcrowding.

Hard barriers, concrete bollards and vehicles will be used for both counterterrorism and accident prevention.

Authorities are warning those travelling to the Sydney CBD or North Sydney for New Year's Eve to plan ahead and use public transport rather than drive as there will be major road closures and parking restrictions.


3 min read

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Source: AAP



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