Luna Park’s incredible act to make sure NYE party goes ahead amid fears Sydney’s famous fireworks could be cancelled
Luna Park has taken legal action to ensure their annual New Year’s Eve party goes ahead as planned as rail strikes threaten to shut down the event.
The popular nightlife spot at Milsons Point, on Sydney’s lower north shore, is usually packed with families on December 31 each year.
Luna Park took the extraordinary measure on Saturday evening and it was significant Nine news it was ‘extremely concerned about the timing of the industrial action’.
People also remained ‘hopeful’ that the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) industrial action would be resolved soon.
Approximately 6,500 tickets were sold to revelers prior to the New Year’s Eve party.
The move comes after the Federal Court gave the union the green light to launch the strikes on Thursday, with dozens of events planned across the city and Christmas just days away.
The Federal Court rejected a technical argument from the NSW state government, which desperately sought to invalidate the industrial action.
The move caused chaos on Sydney’s rail network on Friday, with dozens of train delays and cancellations.
The popular nightlife spot (pictured) at Milsons Point, on Sydney’s lower north shore, is usually packed with families on December 31 each year
Dozens of events in the port city, such as the New Year’s Eve fireworks (pictured), could be affected by the ongoing industrial action
State Transport Minister Jo Haylen (pictured) said industrial action should be avoided as the strikes will force Sydney to a standstill
Disruptions continued on Saturday, with up to eighteen train services canceled mid-morning. The problem affected approximately 360 journeys and caused delays of up to 40 minutes.
Earlier on Friday, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said she would not hesitate to recommend the state government cancel the New Year’s Eve fireworks display in Darling Harbour.
Ms Webb said rail strikes had created safety issues for the 250,000 people who rely on public transport to get in and out of Sydney’s CBD on New Year’s Eve.
“If trains are not available and people cannot leave the city, I am very concerned about the risks this will pose to the public,” Commissioner Webb said.
“Families will no longer be able to return home and they will be stuck in the city with no way out.”
The stark suggestion prompted a fiery response from RTBU NSW secretary Toby Warnes, who said the commissioner was “resorting to scaring the people”.
“If the fireworks are cancelled, that is entirely the government’s responsibility,” Mr Warnes said.
He said the union was “devastated” that Ms Webb had threatened to cancel the fireworks show after negotiations with the government collapsed more than 48 hours earlier.
Disruptions to Sydney’s rail network continued on Saturday, with up to eighteen train services canceled mid-morning (pictured by commuters at a Sydney train station)
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb (pictured) would not hesitate to recommend the state government cancel the New Year’s Eve fireworks display in Darling Harbor
State Transport Minister Jo Haylen said industrial action should be avoided as the strikes will force Sydney to a standstill.
“We can’t have industrial action at this time of year, no amount of industrial action is acceptable,” Ms Haylen said.
‘Without reliable train services it is impossible to move millions of people coming to the port.
‘The only way to get people in and out is through reliable train services.’
Mr Warnes said on Friday that the RTBU would comply with the Fair Work Commission’s instructions if it ordered a halt to industrial action.
“That is a matter for the state government and the Fair Work Commission,” he said.
‘We would prefer there to be no interruption at all.’
Services on the T1 North Shore Line, T2 Leppington and Inner West Line, T3 Liverpool & Inner West Line and the T8 Airport Line were severely affected on Saturday.
Commissioner Webb’s suggestion prompted a fiery response from RTBU NSW secretary Toby Warnes (pictured), who said the commissioner is ‘resorting to scaring the people’
Sydney Trains CEO Matthew Longland said passengers were experiencing delays of about an hour between train services.
Commuters who had made plans to attend the Randwick races, Carols in the Domain and Big Bash cricket were warned to expect significant delays and cancellations.
The state government will meet with the Fair Work Commission on December 23 to try to prevent industrial action from being extended into New Year’s Eve.
The RTBU’s work ban is expected to be lifted on Sunday, but commuters have been warned to expect disruptions for most of the day.
The industrial action is related to a pay dispute in which the union is demanding a pay increase of 32 percent over a period of four years, or 8 percent per year.
The union and the NSW government hope to reach an agreement before Christmas.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Luna Park for comment.