A once-free front-row vantage point for Sydney’s iconic New Year’s Eve fireworks is now set to cost revellers.

People hoping to ring in the New Year from Blues Point will need to fork out $50 for one of just 8000 spots, following a North Sydney Council meeting on Monday night.

The council had proposed selling tickets at three popular Lower North Shore locations overlooking the Opera House and Harbour Bridge — Blues Point, Lavender Bay Parklands, and Bradfield Park/Mary Booth Reserve.

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Councillors voted five to three in favour of ticketing Blues Point, while the other two locations will remain free.

The paid access is intended to partially recover the more than $1 million cost of hosting the NYE event, which has traditionally been fully subsidised by the council.

Expenses include infrastructure such as toilets, bins, internet, site sheds, power, lighting, water, marquees, as well as crowd control, emergency services and traffic management.

With ticketing in place, the council expects to raise $400,000, leaving it with a net gain of $305,000 after costs.

Mayor Zoe Baker said she supported the motion “with an exceptionally heavy heart”.

“I have always voted to keep public open space free and access free but, unfortunately, we as a council and a governing body have inherited a really heavy and precarious financial position that has not been relieved,” she said at the council meeting.

The new charge will take effect for 2025-2026 NYE celebrations, with councillors to review the policy in subsequent years.

Of the 50 vantage points listed by the City of Sydney for last year’s NYE fireworks, nine were ticketed while the remaining 41 were free.

“If you cannot afford a ticket for Blues Point, then I’d urge you to go to Bradfield Park to Mary Booth Lookout to Kurraba Point, to Crem Point, to Waverton, to Carradeh Park, and every other vantage point … to see the fireworks on public land for free,” Baker said.