Break and Enter for View of Sydneys Fireworks!

[icyfroth]

Some people will do anything for a box seat view of Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks - even breaking into inner city public housing.

Last year, the 200 residents of the Sirius, the only high-rise block in The Rocks, were surprised to find their rooftops filled with people, most of whom they had never met.

The 1970s grey concrete block has uninterrupted views of the Opera House and Circular Quay. It is so close to the south-east side of the bridge that it feels like you're in the near lane.

The residents of the low-income housing block, which is managed by the NSW government, realised many of the people watching the fireworks were tourists who had broken into the block, even jimmying the security lock on the ground floor.

Read more: Here

New Years Crowds are out of control and get worse every year, the foreshores are totally trashed by New Year's Day!

Bah Humbug!

[kennedia_nigricans]

the residents could just charge entry fees.

[j*oono]

The residents are so lucky to live there.  I don't suppose there is a waiting list allowed.

[icyfroth]

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@kennedia_nigricans wrote:

the residents could just charge entry fees.

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As a matter of fact some of them were letting workers from surrounding office buildings use their parking spaces, charging substanital fees for the privilege. The TV Show Today Tonight did and expose about it. I imagine those residents were dealt with by the Housing Authority lol.

Might've been A Current Affair, can't remember now.

[icyfroth]

Sydney New Year's Eve fireworks: we don't need more at 10.30pm

The organisers of Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks must think the average Sydneysider has the attention span of a half-witted gnat.

Given that scientists last year estimated that our average grip on detail lasted a full eight seconds, compared with 12 seconds in 2000, the decision to hold an extra fireworks show at 10.30pm is not a surprise.

What is a surprise is that they didn't decide to hold fireworks all evening long.

Why not let off a big bang every eight seconds?

"As a parent of 11-year-old twins, I can only imagine the pain about to be endured by parents planning a quick getaway after the 9pm fireworks. "Mum, mum, they said there were more fireworks at 10.30. Can't we stay? Please please."

Have we really lost the art of simply sitting around with our families and friends and talking?

Maybe this decision says something about our national inability to have fun without alcohol. The best viewing spots will be alcohol free, which can often turn a fun family evening out into an endurance test.

The designer of the fireworks Fortunato Foti said he hoped that the 1.5 million people expected at the harbour and another 1.1 billion worldwide who will watch a telecast of the festivities will be surprised.

"We want people to go away thinking 'We haven't seen that', and for one or two things to stick in their memory," he said.

Three firework shows costing $6.8 million and we still worry that people won't remember any of it the next day.

Read more: Here

[purplecarrot-top]

Hi Icy. Nothing really surprises me any more.

We are house sitting in Hobart. Harbour views. All set for a quiet dinner and watching fireworks from the balcony.

[icyfroth]

I'm all set too, Purps.:)

I've got my camembert and blue vein cheese and crackers for a platter,  and a bottle of Veuve Cliquot we got for Christmas already chilling in the fridge.

I'll be watching from the balcony. OH doesn't get back from his fishing trip til NY's day. But that's ok he never stays up til midnight with me on NY's eve anyway lol.