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Peter Hawkins and Linton Besser

The city's $4 million New Year's Eve party on the harbour will not be hampered by bad weather this year, with mostly clear conditions forecast for the celebrations.

Last year's fireworks were jeopardised by strong winds, but the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast light winds and is not expecting rain tonight. The city's temperature is expected to peak at 26 degrees.

"All our prayers have been answered this year with the weather," said Wayne Harrison, the City of Sydney's New Year's Eve creative director.

"Usually we are very anxious at this stage with bad predictions. Everyone will be in their party clothes and fingers crossed a storm won't come from nowhere."

But organisers said there would be another surprise as the hourglass lit up the Harbour Bridge during the fireworks.

"There is a surprise in store for the countdown; people will be wowed by it if it works," Mr Harrison said. "All I can say is that it involves the bridge."

More than a million people are expected to attend the 33 official vantage points, private functions and other foreshore areas on and around the harbour to welcome in the new year.

The night's "Time of Our Lives" celebrations will include a fireworks show costing about $600,000. Although the amount is similar to previous years, onlookers are being told to expect more bang for their buck

The City of Sydney said it would be the largest and most technologically advanced fireworks display in the world.

More than 1700 police will swamp New Year's Eve hot spots in a bid to prevent any trouble.

The NSW Police Commissioner, Andrew Scipione, yesterday said the heavy police presence would not be as aggressive as what the city experienced during the APEC summit.

"It's not one that's going to be necessarily very assertive until it's required," he said.

The 1750 police officers will patrol 21 precincts under the control of the Assistant Commissioner, Catherine Burn.

Foot patrols will be concentrated at known trouble spots in the inner-city such as the Rocks, Kings Cross and Oxford Street. But police will also be concentrated at suburban locations such as Norton Street in Leichhardt, St George and Cronulla.

"For those that would choose to go out there and do the wrong thing, understand that the police are out there and they're out there in very big numbers and if you play up you are likely to get locked up," Mr Scipione said.

NSW Ambulance will also station extra crews at the Opera House, Darling Harbour and the Rocks, as well as Manly, Blues Point and Nielsen Park.

Authorities urged Sydneysiders not to bring glass into the city, not to drink to excess and to be aware of large crowds.

The Police Minister, David Campbell, also warned people not to stage fireworks displays in their backyards without a permit. "They're dangerous, but they're also illegal," he said.

with AAP