NSW: Revellers urged to stay safe this New Year's Eve

AAP General News (Australia)
12-31-2008
NSW: Revellers urged to stay safe this New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve revellers are being urged to have fun partying and stay safe during
celebrations in Sydney.

Some 1.5 million spectators are expected to fill 24 fireworks vantage points around
Sydney Harbour today .. with festivities kicking off from 3pm (AEDT).

Acrobatic and vintage aeroplanes will fill the skies .. while a boating display will
take to the water at dusk.

Darling Harbour will have live music from 6pm (AEDT) and an indigenous acknowledgement
of country will start at 8.30pm .. with Australian landscapes being projected onto the
Harbour Bridge pylons.

The biggest ever family fireworks display will explode at 9pm before the Harbour of
Light Parade begins.

More than 50 boats .. including tall ships and ferries will feature illuminated emblems
representing the 2008 Sydney New Year's Eve theme of Creation.

But the centrepiece of the party will be the midnight pyrotechnic storm .. featuring
never-before-seen fireworks including simulations of lightning .. thunder and rain.

People are being urged to leave the car at home and check public transport timetables
before heading into the CBD to celebrate .. with extensive road closures in place.

NSW Police Minister TONY KELLY says revellers should have fun .. but stay safe and
behave responsibly.

Police will be out in force and now have the power to confiscate any alcohol being
drunk on George St .. which will be an alcohol free zone from Campbell St to Alfred St.

AAP RTV kd/fdf

KEYWORD: EVE NSW (SYDNEY)

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