New Year's Eve celebrations at Forster-Tuncurry and Taree will go ahead but whether fireworks will feature will be discussed at MidCoast Council's meeting on Wednesday, December 18.
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Fireworks are normally incorporated into the New Year's Eve events locally.
However, recent bushfires across a large portion of the State have attracted social media comment calling for the Sydney NYE fireworks to be cancelled and the money donated to the Rural Fire Service, and a number of councils and event organisers have cancelled fireworks displays.
The celebrations at John Wright Park,Tuncurry, which annually attract an average 10,000 revellers, and Queen Elizabeth Park, Taree are promoted as family-friendly events.
The Taree event generally has about 5000 people and costs $23,000, while Tuncurry's celebrations has a $30,000 price-tage.
In a report for this month's MidCoast Council ordinary meeting on Wednesday, December 18, liveable communities director, Paul De Szell said the NYE fireworks was a known experience for the large number of visitors in the Forster-Tuncurry area during the peak holiday season.
In relation to social media, Mr De Szell said there were comments for and against the fireworks being cancelled, with some expressing the need for "the community to come together in happy times as well as difficult times."
Councillors will be asked to vote on whether to include or exclude fireworks from both celebrations when they meet in the Taree chambers on December 18. The meeting starts at 2pm.
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