One of the harbour's best vantage points for the New Year's Eve fireworks looks set to be reopened to the public this year, after North Sydney Council was accused of "killing New Year's Eve" by trialling ticketing at the 2018 festivities.

The about-face comes amid community backlash to the growing number of ticketed events and alcohol-free zones blanketing the city. The number of alcohol-free zones has surged from 94 to 293 over the last 14 years.

Blues Point Reserve on New Year's Eve in previous years before ticketing was introduced. Credit:Wolter Peeters

At its latest meeting North Sydney Council voted unanimously to "acknowledge the difficulties" that came from introducing ticketing at Blues Point Reserve and to explore "alternative options of managing the crowds".

Mayor Jilly Gibson raised the motion after she was inundated with complaints from residents and business owners, who usually do a roaring trade but said they instead faced a "ghost town".