Fed: Fine for early fireworks, but rain threatens later displays

AAP General News (Australia)
12-31-2009
Fed: Fine for early fireworks, but rain threatens later displays

SYDNEY, Dec 31 AAP - Sydney has kicked off Australia's New Year's Eve celebrations
with a spectacular early firework display for families.

The sky was overcast but rain earlier in the day was gone by nightfall, leaving a clear
view of the pyrotechnics for the hundreds of thousands of Sydneysiders and visitors crowded
around the harbour.

"They were absolutely amazing, I didn't know which way to look, I wish I had 360 degree
vision," said 24-year-old Heather Morgan, from Wales.

Revellers in Melbourne were sweltering as they enjoyed their 9.15pm (AEDT) fireworks,
but those waiting for the midnight display could be in for too much of a cool change.

A weather system moving up from the southwest was threatening to bring thunderstorms
around 11.30pm (AEDT).

Despite warnings earlier this week that the fireworks on the Yarra River banks would
be cancelled if there was lightning, Acting Victorian Premier Rob Hulls said he expected
them to go ahead.

Pyrotechnician Andrew Howard said lightning wouldn't affect the display, but could
pose a safety risk for the operators.

In Brisbane, cool damp conditions have made life easy for police officers patrolling
party districts, after heavy downpours during the day.

More showers are forecast, but fireworks organisers say nothing short of a cyclone
will stop the displays at 8.30pm (AEST) and midnight (AEST).

In a first for the city, laser lights will be beamed from office buildings as part of the show.

In Hobart, a total fire ban declared for Thursday was lifted at 9pm (AEDT) to allow
fireworks displays to go ahead.

But Tasmanian Fire Service Chief Officer Mike Brown warned people to take extreme care
with fireworks and refrain from lighting bonfires in the hot, dry conditions.

Revellers in Sydney were encouraged to wear blue, in keeping with the promised blue
theme of the fireworks.

But most people have failed to heed the call, or failed even to hear it.

"Are we supposed to be wearing blue?" said Andy Larssen, 53, who actually was wearing
a blue shirt.

"I came straight from work in the shirt I'm wearing," he told AAP.

Annie Fitzgerald, 55, did get into the spirit.

"I have no blue clothes, so I bought blue scarves for me and my friends," she told AAP.

Not much blue was to be seen in the 9pm (AEDT) fireworks, with the technically difficult
colour perhaps reserved for the main show at midnight.

At Melbourne's Etihad Stadium, white was the dress code for 30,000 guests at Australia's
largest New Year's Eve party.

AAP wjf

KEYWORD: EVE NATIONAL SECOND WRAP

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.