The city has not run a New Year’s Eve pyrotechnics display since welcoming 2021 and, if it returns this summer, a bigger show is planned.
It would be staged at Robin Hood Park in the Dunedin Town Belt and the display height could be doubled to 150m, enabling the fireworks to still be visible from the Octagon and much of the city.
The Dunedin City Council is to decide next week if it will reinstate the fireworks display.
New Year’s Eve festivities in the Octagon to bring in 2022 were cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic and light and laser shows have been run the past three years as an alternative to fireworks.
The council said those had received mixed reviews.
They were described as an Octagon building projection mapping display and staff commented they had "a limited lifespan" as their novelty was diminishing.
Councillors are set to decide on Wednesday next week whether to continue with the projection mapping or reinstate a fireworks display at a new site — Robin Hood Park.
Projection mapping for New Year’s Eve had a $40,000 cost and a city-wide fireworks display had been quoted at $45,000, the council said.
Robin Hood Park, near the Beverly-Begg Observatory, was identified as a suitable site after discussions with a fireworks contractor.
"This higher vantage point would accommodate a larger safety exclusion zone, significantly reducing risk, while enabling a broader, city-wide display," a report for councillors said.
"The proposed show would also feature larger pyrotechnic shells, increasing from four-inch to six-inch shells."
That would raise the display height from about 50m-75m to about 150m, significantly improving visibility across the city, it said.
"Staff believe that the new fireworks option will be positively received by the public, particularly given the mixed feedback in recent years.
"It also provides the opportunity to create a spectacle visible from many residents’ homes."
The council has previously run into trouble with a fireworks display in the Octagon.
The New Year celebrations to bring in 2017 led to Dunedin man Wayne Boss being blinded in one eye after he was struck by falling debris.
WorkSafe decided not to lay charges.
Mr Boss was disgusted by a council statement that year saying there was not enough evidence to show whether the firework that caused the injury came from a council display or a member of the public.
The council extended the public-exclusion area at the next New Year’s celebration.
In its report ahead of next week’s meeting, the council said reinstating fireworks from the Civic Centre was considered, but not pursued, given the "incident related to falling matter, and the potential fire hazard risk" associated with the location.
Reinstating fireworks from a new location would help ensure public safety while enhancing the appeal of the display, so it was viable, safe and low-risk, the council said.
The Thomas Burns carpark used for the Chinese New Year display was considered but ruled out because of limited visibility from the Octagon.
A Filleul St site was explored but deemed too risky because of potential for damage to nearby windows.
