Latest news with #NewYearsEve
Daily Mail
17 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Aussies vow to boycott New Year's Eve fireworks after unbelievable change
Aussies are considering boycotting the iconic Sydney New Year's Eve fireworks after learning they'd be slugged $50 just to watch them from a public park. The North Sydney Council voted on Monday night to charge viewers $50 each to watch the display from Blues Point Reserve. The council believes it could make about $400,000 by selling off 8,000 New Year's Eve tickets. Facilitating crowds for the fireworks display costs the council an estimated $1million each year. Local resident Mariet Wezeman has watched the fireworks from Blues Point Reserve each year since arriving in Sydney from the Netherlands in 2019. 'It's sad to hear there will be a $50 charge. It's always been free, and I think it's been a great attraction for everyone around to just come and watch the fireworks. It's the perfect spot to watch,' she told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'There's always a huge line into this place because everyone wants to come here. Now I have to think about it – and I think more people will have to think about it. The council should have thought about costs earlier.' She is now considering finding another location to watch from, or may forego the event entirely. The cash-strapped council had been looking for ways to raise funds after 'inheriting a precarious financial situation'. It was left with a $60million hole in its finances after the cost to rebuild the North Sydney Olympic Pool blew out from $58million to more than $122million. The council first proposed an 87 per cent rate rise earlier this year to address the budget, but the move was rejected by the pricing regulator. The council then considered selling NYE tickets in May. North Sydney Mayor Zoë Baker said the decision to charge $50 per ticket was not made lightly. 'It is with an exceptionally heavy heart that I find myself supporting the motion for one year only. We have inherited a really precarious financial position that has not been relieved by our seeking a special rate variation,' she said. She advised those who could not afford a ticket to head to nearby Bradfield Park, Mary Booth Lookout, or Kurraba Point - all of which are free. Mayor Baker also suggested revellers could head to Cremorne Point, Waverton, or Carradah Park to see the display. The mayor said the community will not be stopped from accessing those vantage points in a statement provided to Daily Mail Australia. She said, however, the situation could change pending state government funding. 'After our application for a rate rise was rejected, $12.5million in capital works was cut and Council committed to find $6million in savings and alternative revenue sources for the 2025–26 budget,' she said. A previous ticket trial in 2018 showed nearly half of all residents were opposed to the measure. However, 42 per cent of respondents said they welcomed ticketing the event at the time. Those supporting the move said it would make it safer and create better crowd control, while those against the idea argued the event shouldn't come at the expense of taxpayers. 'Yes (I would pay), if numbers are limited and there are toilet facilities. Otherwise my loungeroom works just fine,' one wrote on social media. 'So, for your own mistakes the general population has to pay for something that shouldn't be charged for,' said another. 'I would rather watch it on the TV for free,' one wrote. 'No. Don't even watch for free on tv. Huge waste of money. Would rather the council spend my rates money on improving infrastructure,' one commented. 'Calls for a boycott of the whole area and make sure they go broke before they make a cent,' said one Sydneysider.
ABC News
a day ago
- Business
- ABC News
Cash-strapped Sydney council votes to charge for NYE fireworks vantage point
Viewing Sydney's multi-million-dollar New Year's Eve fireworks show from North Sydney Council's prime vantage point will cost at least $50 — even though it is public land. It is one of the ways the council is trying to generate revenue to overcome a "serious cashflow" problem brought about by an infrastructure project that has doubled in cost to more than $120 million. The council is also looking to make money from the wealthy schools in the area, including by encouraging them to pay rates and by negotiating the sale of at least two public assets. "We still have the hurdle of a cash liquidity issue," Mayor Zoë Baker told ABC News. "We have to find $6 million in savings or new revenue," she added, and "cut back or defer $12.5 million in capital works." The redevelopment of the council's Olympic pool has ballooned in cost from about $60 million to $122 million, tying up money that would otherwise be spent on services and upgrades. Plans to have residents help bail the council out by imposing a rate increase of 87 per cent over two years were shot down by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal in May, forcing the local government to look elsewhere. Council officers proposed selling tickets to view the New Year's Eve fireworks from three vantage points within the government area, at Blues Point, Lavender Bay Parklands and Bradfield Park/Mary Booth Reserve. But at a council meeting on Monday night, councillors voted five-to-three to ticket Blues Point only — the local government area's prime spot — keeping the other two vantage points free. Council officers estimate the council would make $400,000 by selling 8,000 tickets at $50 each to access the area. After $95,000 in costs, the council estimates it will be left with $305,000. This would help offset the $1.086 million budgeted to host crowds in the council area on New Year's Eve. Cr Baker said the council's "precarious" cashflow was stopping it from absorbing the cost. "It's with an exceptionally heavy heart that I see myself supporting the motion for one year only," she said. Those opposed to the motion acknowledged the cost would impact young families. About nine out of 50 vantage points around the harbour foreshore were ticketed last year, according to the City of Sydney. Two wealthy private schools are independently offering to buy the public roads running along their properties — and the council is seriously considering it. But there is also an effort underway to have private schools in the area pay rates for the land they own. Councillors at Monday's meeting considered an offer from The Sydney Church of England Grammar School, more commonly known as Shore, an all-boys primary and secondary school where tuition ranges from about $30,000 to $46,000 a year. The school expressed an interest in purchasing a portion of Edward Street in North Sydney with the intention of closing it because it owns the properties immediately surrounding it. "The section of Edward Street in question is adjacent to existing school grounds and does not include any residential properties or homes." The councillors resolved to investigate the offer. "The reality is that once you've sold a piece of land or a property, that's it, it's gone," Cr Baker said. "In a place like North Sydney, where the land values are so high, once you sell something, would any future council be able to afford to acquire it back or an equivalent?" One option the council resolved to investigate was a land swap of a nearby pocket park. Shore is not the only wealthy private school circling the council in the hope of snapping up public land. Redlands, another Sydney Church of England co-educational grammar school, initially approached the council to purchase Monford Place at Cremorne in 2021. Similarly, it owns the properties around a 791 square metre cul-de-sac. The council originally shot down the overture about a year later. But at a meeting in November last year, a decision was made to have the council negotiate the sale. There is another way the council is hoping private schools can help it raise funds — and this one does not involve the sale of public assets. The council said the six private schools and the Australian Catholic University could raise more than $1 million if they volunteered to pay rates. "Ten per cent of our land in the local government area is occupied by schools, the majority of which are private schools," Cr Baker said. But all of them declined the offer, saying payment for "any purpose other than for operation of the school" would result in government financial assistance being withdrawn under the law, the council said. Deputy Mayor Godfrey Santer rejected the schools' and university's rationale. "To my untrained eye, I don't understand how this section enabled these schools to claim that they are unable to contribute financially to the services we provide them, which are surely not of a commercial or profit nature as specified," he said.
The Australian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Australian
$50 ticket plan revealed for Sydney Harbour's NYE fireworks hotspot
Revellers taking in Sydney's legendary New Year's Eve fireworks will soon have to shell out $50 to access a prime viewing spot in a major shake-up to how tourists and locals experience the beloved event. North Sydney councillors on Monday night decided to implement 'ticketed access' to Blues Point, a popular vantage point that fronts Sydney Harbour and the Harbour Bridge. It was a decision that councillors say was made 'with a heavy heart', Mayor Zoe Baker said, citing already high New Year's Eve expenditure and a poor budget position as decisive factors in the decision. 'I share your principle on this and have and every year that I've been on this council, I've always voted to keep public open space free and access free,' Ms Baker told the council meeting. 'But unfortunately, we as a council and a governing body have inherited a really precarious financial position that has not been relieved … And so it is with an exceptionally heavy heart that I find myself supporting the motion for one year only.' 'Councillors every year that I've been on the council (17), have written to state governments of varying political persuasions to the same response, which is no. 'I'm hopeful that this Labor state government, who are committed to public access to the foreshore for the fireworks, may be persuaded to provide us, even if it were with the amount that we're seeking to recover, so that we don't have to proceed with the closing of Blue's Point Reserve.' Ms Baker pointed out the ticketed area was one location in a local government area 'blessed with foreshore access and vantage points'. 'So if you cannot afford a ticket for Blues Point, then I'd urge you to go to Bradfield Park to Mary Booth Lookout to Kurraba Point, to Crem Point, to Waverton, to Carradeh Park, and every other vantage point … to see the fireworks on public land for free.' The council area boasts three renowned vantage points for the show, namely Bradfield Park, Lavender Bay and Blues Point, with thousands of punters descending on the spots on December 31 to take in the party. The council is looking to sell 8000 tickets for $50 each. Councillor Nicole Antonini said the cost to the council of hosting New Year's Eve celebrations was already over a million dollars and the implementation of the paid zone would reduce the cost to council by around $300,000 alone. 'Unfortunately … we're in a difficult position. This is not ideal, it's certainly not the preference of most of this council, but in our current financial situation, we have little choice, and for this year only, I support the recommendation of ticketing for this one site.' The report to North Sydney Council outlined three options for the 2025-26 event. Option 1 involved ticketing across all three spots to achieve 'full cost recovery'. Option 2 involved 'partial cost recovery', with ticketing limited to Blues Point, and Option 3 involved continuing with 'free managed access'. The motion to endorse option 2 was carried. Local resident Davie MacDonald said he 'heartily opposed' the idea but if it had to happen, wanted to see an amendment allowing local residents continued access to the area. 'The cost imposed onto young families of being able to go and enjoy the fireworks, especially because there is special fireworks on before 9 o'clock, and I think that impulse against young families, and even for local residents is something that I think you need to take a careful consideration,' Mr MacDonald said. 'I especially look to the progressive people in this chamber, my Labor friends here, and my green friend there, Councillor Hoy, that you must consider very carefully how this impacts on working people. 'Let me tell you, I'm here begging for this, and I never go to a New Year's Eve fireworks display, I actually think it's a waste of money and a terrible waste in that respect, but I ask you to at least, if you're going to accept having a fee there, that there's some kind of modification (for locals).' Previously access to all three sites was free. Council costs for the event include providing toilets and bins and crowd and traffic management. Robert got his start as an Editorial Assistant at the Daily Telegraph in 2024 before entering the Newscorp cadet program. With a background in history and law Robert has a passion for politics and crime reporting as well as telling meaningful stories. NewsWire The Coalition has called for a probe after Labor reversed the partial ban on US beef imports, with David Littleproud pointing fingers at the 'concerning' timing. Business Breaking News Australian shares have bounced back as major banks recover and Trump's EU trade deal boosts investor confidence across global markets.
News.com.au
a day ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
North Sydney Council to introduce ticketed access to New Year's Eve observation spot
Revellers taking in Sydney's legendary New Year's Eve fireworks will soon have to shell out $50 to access a prime viewing spot in a major shake-up to how tourists and locals experience the beloved event. North Sydney councillors on Monday night decided to implement 'ticketed access' to Blues Point, a popular vantage point that fronts Sydney Harbour and the Harbour Bridge. It was a decision that councillors say was made 'with a heavy heart', Mayor Zoe Baker said, citing already high New Year's Eve expenditure and a poor budget position as decisive factors in the decision. 'I share your principle on this and have and every year that I've been on this council, I've always voted to keep public open space free and access free,' Ms Baker told the council meeting. 'But unfortunately, we as a council and a governing body have inherited a really precarious financial position that has not been relieved … And so it is with an exceptionally heavy heart that I find myself supporting the motion for one year only.' 
 'Councillors every year that I've been on the council (17), have written to state governments of varying political persuasions to the same response, which is no. 'I'm hopeful that this Labor state government, who are committed to public access to the foreshore for the fireworks, may be persuaded to provide us, even if it were with the amount that we're seeking to recover, so that we don't have to proceed with the closing of Blue's Point Reserve.' Ms Baker pointed out the ticketed area was one location in a local government area 'blessed with foreshore access and vantage points'. 'So if you cannot afford a ticket for Blues Point, then I'd urge you to go to Bradfield Park to Mary Booth Lookout to Kurraba Point, to Crem Point, to Waverton, to Carradeh Park, and every other vantage point … to see the fireworks on public land for free.' The council area boasts three renowned vantage points for the show, namely Bradfield Park, Lavender Bay and Blues Point, with thousands of punters descending on the spots on December 31 to take in the party. The council is looking to sell 8000 tickets for $50 each. Councillor Nicole Antonini said the cost to the council of hosting New Year's Eve celebrations was already over a million dollars and the implementation of the paid zone would reduce the cost to council by around $300,000 alone. 'Unfortunately … we're in a difficult position. This is not ideal, it's certainly not the preference of most of this council, but in our current financial situation, we have little choice, and for this year only, I support the recommendation of ticketing for this one site.' The report to North Sydney Council outlined three options for the 2025-26 event. Option 1 involved ticketing across all three spots to achieve 'full cost recovery'. Option 2 involved 'partial cost recovery', with ticketing limited to Blues Point, and Option 3 involved continuing with 'free managed access'. The motion to endorse option 2 was carried. Local resident Davie MacDonald said he 'heartily opposed' the idea but if it had to happen, wanted to see an amendment allowing local residents continued access to the area. 'The cost imposed onto young families of being able to go and enjoy the fireworks, especially because there is special fireworks on before 9 o'clock, and I think that impulse against young families, and even for local residents is something that I think you need to take a careful consideration,' Mr MacDonald said. 'I especially look to the progressive people in this chamber, my Labor friends here, and my green friend there, Councillor Hoy, that you must consider very carefully how this impacts on working people. 
 'Let me tell you, I'm here begging for this, and I never go to a New Year's Eve fireworks display, I actually think it's a waste of money and a terrible waste in that respect, but I ask you to at least, if you're going to accept having a fee there, that there's some kind of modification (for locals).' Previously access to all three sites was free.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
The narrator of this novel is trained in — and ruined by — philosophy
'Fresh, Green Life,' the fifth book and second novel by Sebastian Castillo, tells the story of a man whose mind has been ruined by philosophy. It is New Year's Eve, and a 35-year-old writer named Sebastián Castillo does not know what to do. Should he leave Philadelphia and go up to New York, or stay at home, drinking domestic beers and watching YouTube videos?
