Overview

• Councillors voted five to three to sell 8,000 tickets at $50 each for Blues Point Reserve during the New Year’s Eve fireworks display.
• After $95,000 in setup costs the council expects to net about $305,000 toward event expenses.
• Blues Point will be the sole paid vantage point while Bradfield Park and Lavender Bay remain free to the public.
• The ticketing move forms part of wider efforts to bridge a cashflow shortfall caused by a $122 million Olympic pool rebuild and a rejected 87 per cent rate rise.
• Residents have criticized the fee’s impact on families and the council continues to explore asset sales and seeking rates from private schools to shore up its budget.