In its 38th year, the Northbridge Community Fireworks is a long-standing event known for its emphasis on family and community engagement, hosted by Northbridge Rotary.
Traditionally attracting a wide cross-section of the local population, the event has a reputation as a highlight on the local calendar. However, the 2025 event was disrupted by youth-related disturbances, including a major physical altercation and severely intoxicated youths requiring medical attention.
Following these incidents, the Club commissioned a full review, informed by a meeting held between Rotary representatives, NSW Police North Shore PAC, the Willoughby Mayor and representatives of Northbridge Plaza on 20 May 2025, and incorporating feedback from professional security employed for the event, event partners including the RFS and St Johns Ambulance, third party suppliers including food vans and volunteers.
The review identified control gaps and provided recommendations for strengthening future risk mitigation and maintaining the event’s core values of safety and inclusion.
A summary of recommendations made to the Fireworks 2026 committee is detailed below. The review is not being released in full as certain matters remain under police investigation and are likely to be the subject of further legal action.
Key recommendations
- Entry Screening: Event plans do not currently include entry screening or bag checks. Pre purchased tickets are validated and cash or card sales for entry are conducted. Security is available as required but has not been dedicated at the Entry Gate as security risks have otherwise been identified as being in surrounding areas, including Roche Lane, the Fireworks launch site on the golf course, at the Car Park entrance and in relation to fence jumpers. Dedicated security presence at the Entry Gate is recommended as a deterrent, including as is considered appropriate having regard to individual circumstances, bag checks for alcohol and possible weapons and/or refusal of entry. Wristbands upon entry should also be considered as this is likely to facilitate easier security identification of individuals or groups who may have entered the event illegally, and eviction if considered necessary.
- Intoxicated Youths: Event organisers have a “No-alcohol” policy recognising the family nature of the event, and Willoughby City Council designation of Northbridge Oval as a “No-alcohol Zone”. On-line ticket purchasers are reminded of this policy upon purchase. However, it is apparent that some family groups consume drinks on the Oval in a picnic style, albeit that like many teenage party situations greatest concerns have been teenagers arriving at the event already intoxicated or having concealed alcohol. It is recommended that event signage and advertising be upgraded reinforcing the event organisers’ rights to refuse entry and eject intoxicated persons. Entry Gate and Oval volunteers should receive training to detect concealed alcohol and support Security personnel as required. Friends of Rotary, Streetwork (who attended the 2025 Fireworks) and Lifeline to be engaged as to whether their workers are available to provide youth support in and around the event, including public areas such as Northbridge Golf Course and Northbridge Park.
- Fence-jumping: Northbridge Oval does not have permanent fencing along the border with Sailors Bay Road. In recent years, youths have entered without paying either under or over established fencing to the Golf Course or to Northbridge Primary. However this year’s event evidenced most unpaid entry being achieved by groups of young males jumping the 1m barrier mesh installed along Sailors Bay Road. Organisers to liaise with Willoughby City Council regarding capacity to replace the barrier mesh with 3m steel temporary fencing that could be obtained at an additional cost. Implementation will need to have regard for implications for emergency exit planning.
- NSW Police: North Shore PAC have been very supportive of the Fireworks event over the years. In recent years, they have made occasional visits subject to competing priorities, to evidence a presence and act as a deterrent. In discussions with Police this year, prior to the event, it became clear that competing police demands risked no full-time presence, and limited “drive—by” attendance. Accordingly, in early May organisers determined this year to contract 2-4 officers for the event through NSW Police’s “User Pays Policing Service”. While this was sufficient time for Officers to be committed, it soon became apparent that there would be a 4-6 week delay in onboarding the Club as a User Pays client and arrangements were unable to be confirmed. As an alternative, North Shore Command committed to putting Duty Officers on alert and the Event organisers upgraded private security from 6 to 10 persons including 4 so-called “Staunch” officers. With the benefit of hindsight, and despite the best intentions of organisers and the support of NSW Police North Shore PAC, it is now apparent that additional security did not sufficiently compensate for absence of police visibility as a deterrent. It should be expected that Event organisers will commit early to a visible police presence in future.
- Security: As noted in 4. above paid security coverage was significantly upgraded this year. However, it still proved insufficient given crowd composition and youth-related risk. Key issues included only 1–2 officers being available to actively patrol during critical incidents given perimeter security requirements and gate security were then required to leave positions to assist with altercations, leaving entry/exits unmonitored. It is recommended that organisers work with private security to expand the footprint and capabilities (likely to include up to 5 additional staff); implement a specific youth engagement and conflict de-escalation team with police liaison, including 1-2 dedicated female liaison officer(s) to handle intoxicated underage females; and ensure security staff are equipped with effective multi-channel radio communication (currently volunteer team leaders are equipped with small number of these devices but they have become increasingly scarce and unreliable). Existing risk escalation guidelines to also be reviewed, to ensure external third-party suppliers, emergency services and security personnel have a dedicated contact.
- Lighting: The RFS currently provide powered safety lighting for areas of known trip and fall risk. Otherwise, the event relies upon existing Oval and surround lighting. It is recommended that additional powered lighting be investigated for deployment in known security risk areas including Roche Lane, and the Car Park, and potentially to the far Southern side of the Oval where youth tend to congregate. The “lights-out” period of around 10 mins where Fireworks are being deployed is recognised as a higher risk period. Peripheral lighting from amusement rides, food vans, emergency lighting is considered sufficient when combined with the early warning of lights out currently provided by the event M.C.
