Shellharbour City Council has decided to proceed with a pet-friendly New Year's Eve Drone Show at Shell Cove Harbour, supported by strong early sponsorship for the event.
The decision follows detailed investigations into the feasibility of delivering a major community event, including a 500+ drone light show over Shellharbour South Beach, put forward at February's Ordinary Council Meeting.
The event will feature a 9pm drone show on New Year's Eve, offering a visually spectacular and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fireworks, while providing a pet-friendly experience for residents and visitors.
Deputy Mayor Kellie Marsh said the decision reflects Council's commitment to delivering events that bring the community together while balancing financial and operational considerations.
"This is an exciting opportunity for Shellharbour to deliver a unique and first-of-its-kind New Year's Eve experience for the Illawarra," Deputy Mayor Marsh said.
"A drone show offers a modern, low-impact alternative to fireworks, and we are focused on delivering events that are accessible, inclusive and create positive experiences for our community and visitors."
The drone show concept is considered a low-noise, low-emission alternative to fireworks that provides a more inclusive experience for people with sensory sensitivities and pet owners.
Council has so far secured $140,000 in sponsorship support from local businesses and organisations as part of the planning process, helping to reduce the overall cost to Council and demonstrating strong local backing for the initiative.
"I want to sincerely thank the local businesses and organisations who have come on board early to support this event," Deputy Mayor Marsh said.
"Their sponsorship is pivotal in helping us deliver a high-quality New Year's Eve experience for the whole community while keeping costs down for ratepayers."
A contingency option for the drone show has been planned with the NYE event still going ahead and the drone show at a later date on Australia Day at Reddall Reserve.
