The laser light show that lit up Wade Park for Thursday night's Light Up Orange New Year's Eve celebration could be here to stay.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mayor Reg Kidd said there were mixed reviews from the laser show at the sold-out Light Up Orange family-friendly event.
Cr Kidd said children loved the event and there is always room for improvement.
"I think it was great, it was extremely well organised from all reports I've got and I went down there," Cr Kidd said.
"I think it's worth pursuing into the future.
"It's a good safe way to enjoy New Year's, a lot of children loved it.
"The choreography was great."
Cr Kidd said there can be different themes each year and down the track they could shine the lasers off buildings such as the post office or former Dalton building.
"You will always have people who knock things, you always have the naysayers," he said about the mixed reviews from the event.
"If you spend $5 million on fireworks you will have people saying why didn't you spend $6 million."
Cr Kidd said to manage coronavirus precautions there was one entry, however there were three exits, which he said was an improvement on the bottle necks that used to form after the fireworks at Waratah Sports Grounds.
Light Up Orange committee member Holly Manning said the venue could hold 6000 people in non-coronavirus times but on Thursday afternoon the event sold out at 1800.
"Initially it was 4000, when when COVID hit it went to 3000 and we just felt we wanted to manage a smaller number," Mrs Manning said.
"The rule is people can sit in their groups but they are two metres from other groups.
"It's good to see so many people in the community coming together.
"Everybody is excited, children are excited and we are grateful we can put something like this together to end such as challenging year."
Laservision CEO Shannon Brooks said the company was contacted by event organiser Craig McMahon for the Orange event.
I think it was great, it was extremely well organised from all reports I've got and I went down there.
- Mayor Reg Kidd
"It's the first time we've done an event of this [magnitude] in Orange," Mr Brooks said.
"Craig reached out to us about collaborating with us to do something special for Orange.
"These guys wanted to do something special."
Mr Brooks said there was a lot involved in organising the 15-minute the show, including transporting 19-tonnes of equipment and getting licensing with Civil Aviation and Orange Airport.
"It's quite a logistical effort," Mr Brooks said.
"There's a lot of collaboration, local dance artists as well as local musicians.
"It's good to see particularly with what's happening in Sydney for COVID ... [Orange] Council have been very [supportive] with everything that's happening."
Proceeds from the night will go to Give Me 5 For Kids to purchase equipment for the children's ward at Orange Hospital.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...