Despite the announcement there will be no fireworks in Canberra to ring in the new year, organisers are still promising a great party in the city centre.
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ACT Emergency Services Commissioner Georgeina Whelan declared a total fire ban on Sunday which would extend to Wednesday, due to the severe conditions which could prove catastrophic if a fire ignited.
Commissioner Whelan said Events ACT had not requested an exemption to the fire ban to host the fireworks display, and even if they had she would not have granted it.
She said a combination of having a few vantage points where thousands of Canberrans gather to watch fire works and grasslands being completely dry due to the drought proved too dangerous.
"That means that ignitions are highly likely and the spread of those ignitions is quite rapid," commissioner Whelan said.
"The majority of our vantage points only have one entry and exit point and, as we know, there is a little bit of traffic chaos during those evenings.
"As a consequence of the likelihood of an ignition in the event that we have an incident, and the spread of that ignition, the outcome will be absolutely catastrophic."
Despite the lack of fireworks, Events ACT executive branch manager Jo Verden said there would still be a great night of entertainment for Canberrans looking to venture into the city.
There will be musical performers on the main stage in Civic Square, including Asta and The Baker Boys, a number of roving performers, as well as numerous food and drink vans.
"We will be working with our performers to make sure that we can energise the crowd and excite the crowd and really count down [to New Year's] together in a non-traditional way," Ms Verden said.
"[People can] still have a terrific night and welcome in the New Year with a bit of a bang, but just in a different way."
The cost to deliver the New Year's event was about $270,000, Ms Verden advised, but she said this money was not wasted without a fireworks display.
There had been discussions with providers and an arrangement had been made to store the fireworks to be used at an event in Canberra in future when conditions allowed, Ms Verden said.
One person who will likely be just as busy this New Year's even without the fireworks is Craig Harrington, who for 17 years has cleaned up the city after some of its biggest parties.
He said the cleaning crews, starting with street sweepers, began from 3am and worked to have everything neat and tidy by 10am.
Streamers and poppers always littered the streets, Mr Harrington said, and there was always a fair few revellers stumbling home.
"If they see you driving the street sweeper they often ask for a lift," he said. But he's yet to grant their request.
With high temperatures predicted and air quality a potential concern, organisers would be monitoring conditions closer to the event and further announcements could be made for public safety and the welfare of event staff.
Ms Verden advised anyone that may struggle with the heat or smoke in the air to look at celebration options provided indoors by restaurants and bars in the city.
