Wagga residents have expressed dismay that Lake Albert will stripped of the city's New Year's Eve celebrations after the council resolved to move the official event to the Victory Memorial Gardens.
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Councillors voted on Monday for the city to run the event itself after it could not find an external operator.
Residents who spoke to The Daily Advertiser on Tuesday said they preferred Lake Albert.
"I like the lake because it's something different as a lot of events get held at the gardens," said Natasha Coetzee, who attended the New Year's Eve event last year with her children.
Alex Davey, who also attended the New Year's Eve event last year, said the lake had better features for the event.
"The lake is very good, it's got a lot more room and the reflection of the fireworks on the water is something special," he said.
"It also has more parking."
Wagga's official New Year's Eve event has been held at Lake Albert for the last two years under the 'Skyworks' banner, having originally been held at the gardens.
One of the previous Wagga New Year's Eve organisers, Committee 4 Wagga, has welcomed the council taking on the event, saying it would keep the family friendly option going.
Committee 4 Wagga chief executive Alan Johnston said the city location would help central business district traders.
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"It's a community event and for returning family members. Returning it to central Wagga is all good for the CBD," he said.
"We're supportive of council taking it on and we would be happy to have a chat with them about our experiences running the event."
Wagga councillor Vanessa Keenan said she had yet to have any direct feedback from residents on the council's plans for New Year's Eve.
"Importantly, the council is making sure that the event is still there for the community," she said.
"There's a bigger conversation to be had ... this decision is only for this New Year's and we still have the question of what Wagga wants going forward."