New Year's lacks sparkle but at least it's the end of 2020

The famous Coolamon street party and fireworks has been cancelled because of COVID fears. It's been a big attraction for several years and the locals are very disappointed - although local businesses have been happy with a recent boost in regional tourism.

Many councils believed it was just too risky to put on big events for New Year's.

In Wagga Wagga, they've decided to do New Year's with a twist, inviting families to book restaurant tables and entertain people with street performers.

In Dubbo, the fireworks will go ahead, but the crowd has been cut. Normally it attracts 6000 people, but it was restricted to a 3000 ticketted event at the Dubbo Showground.

The fireworks at Dubbo is a partnership between the Dubbo Show Society and the Fletcher family.

In the promo, it says : "Bid 2020 farewell and welcome in the new year with an evening packed with family entertainment, market stalls and rides.

"This event has been produced inline with current NSW Government conditions and restrictions."

Many people can't wait to see the back of 2020 after the bushfires and COVID.

At the Royal Hotel in Manilla near Tamworth it was a sombre outlook for New Year's with the town's famous celebrations mostly cancelled.

Even the RSL Club has announced it's only having a DJ out in the beer garden and closing up shop at 10pm.

Manilla Royal Hotel publican reckons he'll even close early if no one is around for the New Year tick over.

"We normally have a battle of the bands and that isn't on. If things are quiet we'll just shut up the bar. We'll just wait and see what happens.

"Most people can't wait to see the back of 2020."

People in the Greater Sydney region, including people in Wollongong and the Central Coast can only have five people in a home for New Year's, but outside parties of up to 30 people.

But in regional NSW it is different. The NSW Government advice says: "In other areas of NSW (including regional NSW), up to 50 visitors from any number of households may visit another household at any one time. The total number of visitors includes adults and children." In regional NSW you can have an outdoor gathering of up to 100 people, with social distancing to be observed.