The council said it would not proceed with its New Year's Eve tradition after council officers met with firefighters and fireworks professionals on Monday.

"Representatives from Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Rural Fire Service and the pyrotechnicians and reached a consensus position that the current and forecast conditions would mean that proceeding with the planned fireworks would present an unacceptable level of risk to both the safety of the event and the community," the council said in a joint statement.

Fire and Rescue NSW's Superintendent Greg Symonds said there were a number of factors, including the 42-degree forecast and demands on firefighters as major bushfires continue to smoulder across the region.

A total fire ban is in place for the Hunter on Tuesday amid a severe fire danger rating.

There has so far been no indication that City of Newcastle's festivities will not go ahead, with less intense heat predicted on the coast than inland for Tuesday.

"The fireworks display will be subject to weather conditions or fire bans as per any event of this type," a City of Newcastle spokeswoman said earlier in December.

"City of Newcastle stands in support of neighbouring councils that are at risk of bushfires.

"We are fortunate to have a beautiful harbour and foreshore location for our fireworks display where there is a reduced threat of fires."

Maitland City Council general manager David Evans said planning started early in the year for their now-scrapped display and options for the unused fireworks would be considered.

Storms scuppered last year's fireworks in Maitland and Newcastle, which were later used to celebrate Australia Day.

"We committed to the fireworks long before the conditions we are currently experiencing took hold," Mr Evans said.

"We would have liked to have been able to proceed with the fireworks had the conditions forecast for tomorrow been more favourable, but after the site inspection today, we support the advice from the emergency services."

Festivities will continue in the Riverside car park from 5pm to 8.30pm including live music, face painting and more.

Maitland's decision dovetails with Paterson's decision to forge ahead with a party but shelve the fireworks.

Earlier in December, Cessnock and Lake Macquarie opted to exclude fireworks from carols by candlelight events and instead donate the budget to drought and fire relief organisations.