The maestro of Melbourne’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display says his $3 million performance was cheap entertainment.

The annual nay-sayers have come out in force, suggesting the fireworks are a waste of money.

But Andrew Howard, of Howard & Sons Pyrotechnics, told Nick McCallum on 3AW Drive that it’s actually good value.

‘At the end of the day fireworks are a very cost-effective way of entertaining a very big audience,’ he said.

‘You can’t put on live bands and DJs for that many people for anywhere near the budget we had.’

Click play to hear Mr Howard review his own work