Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks will go ahead as planned following the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) granting organisers an exemption from the total fire ban.

The Sydney exemption follows the cancellation of other fireworks displays in Parramatta and regional NSW due to bushfire risks and strong wind forecasts.

Previous to this afternoons decision, a petition to cancel the fireworks because of the current bushfire crisis had gathered more than 268,000 signatures, with many calling for the funds to instead be allocated to the NSW RFS.

City of Sydney Councillor Christine Forster tells John Stanley although it costs $6 to $7 million to stage the fireworks, they generate $130 million for the NSW economy.

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Head of Major Events at City of Sydney council Tanya Goldberg says the fireworks actually present a great opportunity to fundraise for those impacted by bushfires.

“To leverage the event to drive donations towards the Red Cross’s disaster relief and recovery fund will have a meaningful impact on those communities.”

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Image: Getty/Scott Barbour