Cracking colourful displays have been condemned across the city as illegal fireworks prove “disruptive” and “upsetting”.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
North Wagga residents took to social media following a scourge of unexpected explosions at the weekend, affecting residents, their children and pets.
In a Facebook post, one resident on Sunday said:
“We have a four-month-old who is hard enough to settle without (fireworks) going off outside”.
In a Facebook community group, another woman said it was “selfish behaviour”.
“And it’s not just this weekend,” the post read.
“It has been a number of other weekends where I too have had scared children because someone decided to let fireworks off down the lane-ways at some ungodly hour.”
Wagga Police duty officer Rob Vergano said fireworks were illegal to let off without a permit.
“They’re dangerous,” he said.
“It’s an explosive and can cause serious injuries.”
Inspector Vergano said they set animals off, they were a disturbance for many people and were a fire hazard as well.
He warned anyone found using the explosives without a permit could face a $1000 fine.
While the unexpected explosives often frightened children and caused pets to panic, for one Wagga man it was like being back at war.
The returned soldier spoke to The Daily Advertiser on a condition of anonymity.
Diagnosed with PTSD, the city resident said waking up to unexpected explosions “not ten-metres” from his home had triggered a “flight or fight” response and all of a sudden, he was back in combat.
He said the green lights “flashing through the night” were like phosphorous burns from gun fire and the big red lights were similar to improvised explosive devices.
“Your brain thinks it’s right back there,” the former soldier said.
“You don’t realise where you are and you go into attack mode.”
The former soldier said, outside of being illegal, it was common decency to let people know.
“It’s all fun and games, fireworks are great,” he said.
“Just not in a residential area.”