The Sunshine Coast’s main New Year’s Eve celebration could settle into a more permanent format after several years of changes.
Sunshine Coast Council officers are recommending the 8.30pm and midnight fireworks at Mooloolaba continue in 2026 and future years, with councillors to consider the proposal today at their ordinary meeting.
The fireworks would again be launched from an offshore barge, while council would focus its spending on the displays, public safety, traffic and crowd management, emergency services, amenities and other essential operations.
The recommendation follows several years of changes to the event.
The midnight display was dropped for New Year’s Eve 2024, with the former council citing safety, cost, environmental impacts and ongoing work on the Mooloolaba foreshore among the reasons.
The move attracted strong public criticism and the midnight fireworks returned in 2025, alongside the earlier family-friendly show.
But bringing the midnight display back created another hurdle.
Council determined it would cost an additional $133,000 and sit outside its core festive-season budget, making the 2025 show conditional on securing the same amount through external commercial partnerships.
According to a council report, the financial position is different this year.
Council says both fireworks displays can now be delivered from the existing $375,000 New Year’s Eve Mooloolaba allocation after reviewing the broader festive program and reducing council-led activation and infrastructure requirements.
The money covers the fireworks as well as public safety, traffic and crowd management, emergency services coordination, waste management, amenities and essential logistics.
It does not include council-funded on-ground entertainment or activation.
Instead, businesses and community groups would be encouraged to provide complementary entertainment, family activities and other offerings across the broader Mooloolaba precinct.
External funding would still be sought to offset costs and support extra activities, but the midnight fireworks would no longer depend on sponsorship to proceed.
The proposed format largely builds on the revised approach used last year, when the fireworks were moved offshore and viewing was spread along the coastline rather than concentrated on the Mooloolaba foreshore.
Council says the change improved crowd dispersal and produced positive safety outcomes.
Recent council surveys found safety remained the most important consideration for people deciding whether to attend New Year’s Eve events, while family-friendly experiences were highly valued and there was support for both early-evening and midnight fireworks.
Mooloolaba would remain council’s primary New Year’s Eve celebration, with community-led events at Caloundra and Coolum Beach also supported through council funding and promotion.
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Council has already sought quotes for barge-based fireworks services for this year, with an option to extend the arrangement to New Year’s Eve 2027.
The ongoing model would still be subject to council’s annual budget, required approvals and operational planning, while the location and method of the fireworks could be changed in future because of safety, site conditions or value for money.
