Canberra’s cancelled Australia Day fireworks were damaged and unable to be put into storage for next year’s event.
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Mother Nature not only rained on Canberra’s Australia Day parade on Saturday but also caused irreparable damage to a significant amount of the fireworks according to event organisers.
“A large proportion of fireworks on the barges on the lake from which the fireworks were going to be fired were damaged to the point that they were unsafe,” Events ACT representative Adelina La Vita said.
“All the fireworks had two levels of covering, a tarp across the entire barge and a second level of plastic sheeting secured to keep the moisture out. The strength of the storm just ripped the tarps off the barges and allowed water to damage the fireworks.”
However how much it cost to not have the fireworks go ahead on Australia Day remains a mystery.
Events ACT were unable to provide Fairfax Media with the cost of the damaged crackers as the fireworks display is organised by the National Australia Day Council.
The National Australia Day Council were also unable to disclose the monetary value of the water soaked fireworks a week after the celebrations were due to go ahead.
“We are working with our suppliers to get a clearer picture of the damage and related costs, but we’re looking forward to an amazing show in 2014 and are delighted that all the other events for Australia Day went so well and were so well attended,” project manager Fiona Dolan said. “Safety was the most important consideration on the day, which was why the fireworks had to be cancelled.” Following the Australia Day wash out, organisers of the annual Skyfire show - radio station 104.7 - are preparing to up the ante for the fireworks spectacle which will light up the sky over Lake Burley Griffin on March 16.
104.7 content director Drew Chapman said Canberrans can expect to big things from the 25th Skyfire during the Centenary year.
“There will be things in the sky that have never been seen before,” he said.
At least 600 hours of design and preparation goes into Skyfire each year and, although the show has not been finalised, Mr Chapman could reveal that 25-tonnes of equipment will occupy Lake Burley Griffin for the 2013 event including two 20-foot shipping containers, nine pontoons and 38,000 pyrotechnics.
Mr Chapman said he will be watching the weather forecasts closely in the lead up to Canberra’s largest fireworks display.
