A report that will be considered by councillors on Wednesday night makes the case for moving the display to the city's long-standing floral festival in 2022.

WHEN DO YOU THINK FIREWORKS FUNDING SHOULD BE ALLOCATED? LET US KNOW BELOW.

The show had previously taken place on January 26, but councillors voted last month to stop holding the fireworks event around Lake Wendouree on that day.

There was also a resolution to shift the fireworks to a different date in the future - or invest the funding put aside for the fireworks for another public event such as a sound and light show.

The council began funding the fireworks in 2018 after the previous sponsor 3BA backed out.

The Begonia Festival has traditionally been held on the March Labour Day long weekend. According to the report, the present restrictions and regulations will not permit fireworks at this year's festival, which takes place in around six weeks' time.

The 2021 Begonia Festival has now been stretched over three weeks, including four weekends, in March to allow it to take place in a COVID-safe way. The traditional parade will no longer take place.

The officers behind the report say there may still be the opportunity for fireworks to happen some time in 2021 if the current COVID restrictions are eased.

The report reads: "The continuing COVID restrictions have meant that it is not yet possible to schedule the 2021 fireworks with any confidence that they will be able to occur, but officers are monitoring the circumstances closely to ensure that they can be delivered at the next most appropriate opportunity."

Events under consideration include the Ballarat Heritage Festival, the Ballarat Winter Festival, the night before Spilt Milk, as well as an evening in the run-up to Christmas this year.

The author adds: "Furthermore, as COVID allows for the resumption of events in Ballarat, there may be another event opportunity emerge."

On Tuesday, a City of Ballarat-backed "Survival Day" dawn ceremony was held for the second consecutive year on the shores of the lake.

There were also ceremonies held for new Australian citizens.

The council's decision to cancel fireworks on January 26 had a mixed reception. It was broadly welcomed on The Courier's social media sites but was also criticised for penalising the "silent majority".

A crowd of around 10 to 15,000 spectators gathered for what proved to be the final fireworks display in January 2020.

The estimated cost of the event to the City of Ballarat is $40,000 annually.

WHEN DO YOU THINK FIREWORKS FUNDING SHOULD BE ALLOCATED? LET US KNOW BELOW.