North Sydney Council Proposes Ticketing for Iconic Blues Point Reserve on New Year’s Eve
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SYDNEY, NSW – July 29, 2025
North Sydney Council is set to introduce a significant change to its highly sought-after New Year’s Eve fireworks viewing experience at Blues Point Reserve, with a new proposal to enforce paid ticketing for the 2025/26 celebrations. The move aims to partially recoup the escalating operational costs associated with hosting one of Sydney’s most iconic New Year’s Eve vantage points.
North Sydney Council Chambers on Miller Street ,North Sydney/Photo Credit A.Ritenis
Under the recommended “Option 2” from a suite of NYE management models, Blues Point Reserve would be capped at 8,000 patrons, with tickets priced at $50 per person. This partial ticketing strategy is projected to generate approximately $400,000 in gross revenue, contributing a net $305,000 towards the Council’s total New Year’s Eve operating budget, which currently stands at over $1 million.
The proposal, which was endorsed by the Council on July 28, comes amidst rising infrastructure and safety requirements for the massive annual event, including enhanced anti-terrorism measures and crowd control systems. Council staff argue that this change offers a more sustainable cost-sharing model without fully commercialising the event or restricting public access across all sites.
While Blues Point Reserve would become a ticketed precinct, other popular North Sydney viewing locations such as Bradfield Park and Lavender Bay Parklands are expected to remain free-access, though still subject to crowd control measures.
New Years Eve fireworks/Image copyright Sydney City Council
This isn’t the first time North Sydney Council has explored ticketing at Blues Point. A trial in 2018 provided valuable insights, with post-event surveys indicating high satisfaction among ticketholders regarding safety and views, despite some concerns from local residents and businesses about access restrictions. The new proposal incorporates lessons learned from that experience, including controlled entry from the night before and enhanced communication with nearby stakeholders.
However, the Council acknowledges potential operational and reputational risks, such as community dissatisfaction, the possibility of fake ticket scams, and managing expectations of ticketholders arriving late. It’s also noted that many other harbourfront landowners, including the City of Sydney, have reverted to free managed access after trialling ticketing, particularly during the COVID-19 period.
Despite this trend, North Sydney Council officers maintain that the unique pressures of managing three high-demand vantage points necessitate a different approach. The proposed partial ticketing model for Blues Point Reserve is seen as a balanced solution to recover some costs while maintaining broader community access to the celebrations.
Community consultation is expected to follow the endorsement of the ticketing direction, with a detailed communications strategy planned to engage precinct committees, residents, and businesses. Should the 2025/26 ticketing model prove successful, further adjustments, including ticket price changes or expansion of ticketed zones, could be considered in future years.
