New Year’s Eve 2018: Sydney Harbour to host ‘most spectacular’ firework display ever seen

The Lord Mayor of Sydney has promised New Year’s Eve celebrations on Sydney Harbour will be “the most spectacular ever seen”.

Announcing the preparations being made for the event today, Clover Moore said Sydney’s highl -anticipated fireworks display will be the biggest yet.

On December 31st, across two displays at 9pm and midnight, more than 8.5 tonnes of fireworks will light up the sky, approximately 500kg more pyrotechnics than in 2017.

“This is an event that brings our diverse, multicultural community together and thousands of international visitors around our harbour and contributes more than $100 million to the Australian economy,” said Mayor Moore outside the Sydney Opera House.

“It puts Sydney on the map.”

Included in the near-9 tonne of fireworks are 35,000 “shooting comets” and 13,000 “shells”, as well as never-before-seen effects.

Fireworks director Fortunato Foti said there will be more than 100,000 individual pyrotechnic effects on the night.

"Our 'pulse of Sydney' theme has inspired new fireworks effects. For the first time we've created pulsating fireworks that you'll see in dramatic new star shapes," said Mr Foti.

"We're also introducing wave effect fireworks, where the colour moves across the display rather than the traditional explosion from the centre of the firework.

"And to celebrate summer, we've created fireworks featuring new lime and peach colours to brighten the show."

Australian band Client Liaison will headline the proceedings, playing Great Southern Land' as part of the ABC New Year's Eve concert at the Sydney Opera House.

Other events planned for the night include a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony by the Tribal Warrior Association, as well as air displays, Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon projections and live music.