News Alert |

Ballarat residents are invited to relax on the shores of Lake Wendouree to view the city’s sky explodes with colour this Australia Day.

This year’s fireworks display has been created by local pyrotechnic Matthew Batty, who has designed his aerial showcase to create multiple layers of height, colour, and effects that will fill the night sky across Lake Wendouree  in  a  spectacularly colourful  and  rhythmic show,  coordinated between the  pontoon  and  isthmus positions.

With more than 14 years’ experience, Springbanks’ Matthew Batty (of Northern Fireworks) is no stranger to large fireworks displays. Batty has previously been a part of the New Year’s Eve celebrations at Lakes Entrance and South Warf, Winter Festival in Victoria and Brisbane’s Riverfire Festival.

Tapping into, incubating and promoting home-grown creatives like Matthew goes to the core of the Creative City Strategy, and assists to build strong narrative and growth across creative industries in Ballarat. By embracing this creative energy, Ballarat edges closure to establishing itself as a world-class creative city.

The new pyrotechnics display will kick off at 9.30pm, lasting approximately 15 minutes.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic, or enjoy the delicious selection of local food vendors who will be located by the Adventure Playground and start of the rowing course.

The Ballarat Botanical Gardens and Lake Wendouree foreshore will be an alcohol-free zone from 3pm.

Drivers travelling to Lake Wendouree on Saturday 26 January are advised that no parking restrictions apply around the Lake Wendouree precinct, but it is recommended that care be taken when leaving this area due to the increased amount of traffic expected on Australia Day.

Windmill Drive will be closed to traffic and parking from 6am on Australia Day, due to some areas falling under the fireworks exclusion zone. 

Lake Wendouree will be closed to all water actives from 4pm-11.45pm.

Public access to the isthmus at the end of the rowing course will be restricted from 9am on Thursday 24 January until midnight on Saturday 26 January 2019 to enable the safe launch of the fireworks.

Residents are also encouraged to take care of their pets during the fireworks display, by ensuring pets are kept indoors if they’re likely to be spooked by loud noises.