New Years Eve arrangements for Balmain peninsula

Traffic arrangements for the Balmain Peninsula for New Years Eve 2025 can be found below.

Public transport

The best way to access the Balmain peninsula on New Years Eve is by public transport.

Extra public transport will operate to get you to the Balmain Peninsula and home again. To plan your trip visit the Transport for NSW website or call 131 500.

Road closures

Council is planning to implement the following traffic arrangements to cater for New Years Eve 2025 celebrations.

The following roads will be closed to all vehicular traffic from 3:00pm on Wednesday, 31 December 2025 until 1:00am on Thursday, 1 January 2026 to cater for the New Year’s Eve celebrations:

• Brent Street at Evans Street intersection, Rozelle (both directions)
• Mansfield Street at Evans Street intersection, Rozelle (both directions)
• Hanover Street at Evans Street intersection, Rozelle (both directions)
• Mackenzie Street at Victoria Road intersection, Rozelle (both directions)
• Hartley Street at Victoria Road intersection, Rozelle (both directions)
• Joseph Street at Victoria Road intersection, Rozelle (both directions)
• Loughlin Street at Victoria Road intersection, Rozelle (both directions)
• Crescent Street at Robert Street intersection, Rozelle (both directions)
• Buchanan Street at Robert Street intersection, Balmain (both directions)
• Waragal Avenue at Terry Street intersection, Rozelle (both directions)
• McKell Street at Yeend Street intersection, Birchgrove (both directions).

In addition, the following roads will be closed to all vehicles entering the Balmain Peninsula except Transport for NSW (TfNSW) buses, taxis, hire cars and Balmain Permit Holders. From 7pm to 1am access will be permitted for residents only (proof of residence will need to be shown to Police at closure points) or vehicles with accessible patrons.

NSW Police officers will be at the following closure points between 3:00pm on Wednesday, 31 December 2025 and 1:00am on Thursday, 1 January 2026:

• Terry Street at Wellington Street intersection, Rozelle (northbound direction)
• Darling Street at Nelson Street intersection, Rozelle (northbound direction)
• Darling Street at Ewenton Street intersection, Balmain (eastbound direction)
• Evans Street at Merton Street intersection, Rozelle (northbound direction)
• Evans Street at Nelson Street, Rozelle (both directions)
• Mullens Street at Robert Street intersection, Rozelle (both directions)
• Ballast Point Road at Lemm Street-Yeend Street intersection, Birchgrove (south and eastbound directions)
• Wharf Road at Grove Street intersection, Birchgrove (eastbound direction)
• Robert Street at Crescent Street, Rozelle (northbound direction)
• Grove Street at Rose Street, Birchgrove (eastbound direction).

For a complete list of road closures and parking restrictions, please visit www.livetraffic.com.

Road closures map

Refer to the following map for road closure locations. Road users are requested to avoid these locations at reopening time and where possible use alternative routes.

Taxis and Ride share (e.g., Uber and DiDi)

Council has liaised with the Police to ensure Taxis and ride share vehicles will be allowed to access the peninsula on New Year’s Eve. However, Taxi and ride share access after 7:00pm will require the passengers to have information verifying they are a resident of the Balmain Peninsula. The information could be a driver’s licence rates notice or any other official proof of residence. Temporary taxi drop-off points will be provided for non-residents close to the closure points.

Please note that Police will not let taxis or ride share vehicles into the Peninsula after 7:00 pm except when the vehicles are occupied by residents or mobility impaired.

Temporary changes in parking restrictions

To provide transportation for visitors to the area, TfNSW will be operating additional bus services to Darling Street. To manage these additional services, the following restrictions will be in place from 3:00pm on 31 December 2025 to 3:00am on 1 January 2026:

• Temporary ‘Bus Zones’ on both sides of Darling Street between Mort Street and Curtis Road (see following plan inset)
• Temporary ‘Bus Zone’ on the northern side of Darling Street between King Street and North Street (see following plan inset)
• Temporary ‘Bus Zone’ on the southern side of Grove Street between Wharf Road and Bay Street (see following plan inset)
• Temporary ‘Bus Zone’ on the southern side of Crescent Street between Robert Street and No.43A Crescent Street (see following plan inset)
• Temporary ‘No Stopping’ restriction on the eastern side of Montague Street between Darling Street and Beattie Street
• Temporary ‘Bus Zone’ on both sides of Eaton Street between Darling Street and Darvall Street (see following plan inset)
• Special event clearways on Victoria Road from The Crescent to Westbourne Street (westbound only) from 3:00pm, 31 December to 2:00am, 1 January. ‘Clearways’ are strictly no parking zones for all vehicle types, including local parking permit holders or mobility parking permit holders. Vehicles left in ‘clearways’ will be towed, check signs carefully.

Temporary Bus Route utilising Booth Street and Eaton Street

To assist with the safe and efficient movement of buses, Booth Street will operate one-way southbound between Darling Street and Darvall Street as shown below:

 An additional map from TfNSW showing road closures and temporary parking changes within the peninsula has supplied below.

New Years Eve 2025 - Inner West Council - Balmain & Birchgrove Peninsula (PDF 1.2MB)

Permits accepted

The following permits will be accepted for access to the Balmain/Rozelle peninsula:

• Current Inner West Council Resident Parking Permit for areas: B1, B2, B3, B5, BE, BG, R1, R2, R3 and R4
• Mobility Parking Scheme permits
• Inner West Council Resident Access Permits (Balmain Peninsula).

Residents/business proprietors within the closed section of the Balmain Peninsula, who require vehicle access during the road closure period, and who have not been issued one of the above permits, can apply for a Resident Access Permit.

Resident and businesses will be eligible for two permits only. To apply for a resident access permit, applicants will need to submit the application and provide proof of residency/business operation with an address inside the restricted area. No permits will be issued for visitors.

Supporting documentation required

• Residential (You must provide BOTH documents)
  • Driver's licence
  • Registration papers showing address in the restricted area
• Business (Please provide one of the following documents)
  • You must provide a ABN certificate (displaying the address)
  • Front page of lease showing address within restricted area

Permit application

Apply here for your New Years Eve resident access permit

• Online applications can be submitted from Monday 1 December 2025 and will close at midnight Friday 12 December 2025.
• In-person applications at Ashfield Service Centre or Petersham Service Centre are available until Wednesday 24 December 2025.
• In-person applications at Leichhardt Service Centre are available until Wednesday 31 December 2025.

For opening hours please visit:  https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/about/get-in-touch/contact