Wollongong Council confirms Australia Day fireworks with Flagstaff Hill back-up after New Year’s Eve cancellation

Harbour breakwall remains preferred firing point, with alternate site approvals secured

Wollongong City Council has confirmed its Australia Day fireworks display is scheduled for 9pm on Monday 26 January 2026 at Wollongong Harbour, while outlining a contingency plan after the cancellation of the New Year’s Eve show.

The 31 December 2025 fireworks were called off on the day due to dangerous ocean swells impacting the harbour breakwall, with waves and forecasts creating conditions judged unsafe for staff and the public. Council said it was not possible to safely rearrange launching points in time for the planned 9pm start and the decision was made in consultation with the fireworks contractor and emergency services.

Why the southern breakwall is still the main site

For Australia Day, Council has again nominated Wollongong Harbour’s southern breakwall as the preferred firing location. It said the breakwall has been used for more than 20 years and provides multiple viewing areas, while allowing road closures, exclusion zones and crowd control measures to be implemented with minimal disruption. Council also stated that 31 December 2025 was the first time ocean swells had forced a cancellation of a planned fireworks display from that firing point.

• Event: Australia Day fireworks
• Date and time: Monday 26 January 2026, 9pm
• Primary firing location: Southern breakwall, Wollongong Harbour

Flagstaff Hill approved as back-up location

Following the New Year’s Eve cancellation, Council said it reassessed alternative firing points and obtained the necessary approvals for Flagstaff Hill to serve as an alternate location on 26 January if the breakwall becomes unsuitable.

Council cautioned that Flagstaff Hill has its own constraints, including weather-related considerations, and emphasised that relocating a fireworks display is complex. The work includes changes to rigging, updated risk assessments and licence approvals, the establishment of new exclusion zones, revised road closures, and updated crowd-management plans.

Relocating a fireworks display requires significant operational changes and typically needs around 24 hours’ notice to implement safely.

Review and additional measures following the NYE cancellation

Council said it will continue reviewing alternative locations for future events and is seeking independent expert advice to strengthen its framework for using weather and ocean swell forecasts in event planning and decision-making. It also confirmed the Australia Day display will include a small number of additional fireworks salvaged from the cancelled New Year’s Eve show.

Separately, new signage has been installed warning of the temporary closure of the breakwall due to safety concerns following recent conditions at the harbour.