This year, for the first time, January 1 will be welcomed not with a bang but a whimper, as Nelson Bay joins the rest of the Hunter’s  main  population spots in doing away with the traditional 12am light show. 

Instead, the  Port Stephens celebration will adopt the increasingly standard line of being a ‘‘family friendly’’ event, with d’Albora Marinas, which runs the Nelson Bay operation, saying the ‘‘only display of the night’’ will be held at 9pm  instead. 

Alcohol-free zones will stretch across most beaches, parks and the Nelson Bay foreshore.

It follows previous decisions by Maitland, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie councils to do away with the traditional midnight celebrations.

Newcastle City Council  dispensed with a midnight show last year after  intoning the ‘‘family friendly’’ line. And despite  stating that Newcastle’s loss could be Maitland’s gain, Maitland  cut the cord in August, citing antisocial behaviour and financial viability given the poor turnout in previous years.

But in the tourist-dependent town of Nelson Bay,  the decision to scrap the $25,000 show has some business owners scratching their heads.

Peter Sheriff, the owner of Depz Restaurant on Magnus Street in the centre of town, said he was ‘‘dumbfounded’’ at the decision.

‘‘It’s very much a tradition and for those people used to celebrating it, it might be a bit of a disappointment,’’ he said.

‘‘I think the greatest thing will be trying to let the people know who come up here for New Year’s Eve that it won’t be on.’’

Mr Sheriff said he had already lost one catering job  after telling a host that  the fireworks had been cancelled.

But not all businesses feel that way.

The Nelson Bay fireworks are funded by the outgoings of the business  tenants at d’Albora Marinas.

Robyn Bradbury owns one of those businesses –  the Rock Lobster Restaurant –  and said the businesses wouldn’t be affected much.

‘‘I’m not a spokesperson for the tenants  but I can certainly say that [the] tenants unanimously agree that getting rid of the midnight fireworks would not impact our businesses,’’ Ms Bradbury said.