Fireworks canned, leaving council with $68,000 grant to spend on NYE

June 8, 2022

By David Fitzsimons

New Year’s Eve fireworks have been ruled out for Orange.

Instead Orange City Council will look to laser and light shows, a Christmas parade, a running festival and other family activities to mark seasonal celebrations in December.

The return of fireworks was proposed to Orange City councillors in a staff report to Tuesday night’s meeting.

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However mayor Jason Hamling said factors including the weather and fire restrictions made fireworks displays uncertain, while an alternate laser lights show would be less susceptible to the prevailing conditions.

Councillor Tony Mileto suggested a Christmas parade up Summer Street would benefit smaller children who could not stay up for night time activities.

And councillor Kevin Duffy proposed a Vivid-style lighting of city buildings with lasers to ignite the Christmas celebrations.

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The council will use grant funding of $67,582 toward New Year’s Eve activities.

And it will use $35,000 grant funding plus $35,000 of its own funds to host the Sprint into Summer-Orange Mile running festival in the city in early December.

It is proposed the route would start at Wade Park and finish at the corner of McNamara and Byng streets.

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The McNamara Lane car park would serve as a spectator point and post-event venue with food trucks and market stalls.