Covid grounds plans for New Year’s Eve drones spectacular over Docklands
The much-anticipated drone swarm display over Docklands for this New Year’s Eve has been grounded.
Victoria
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The New Year’s Eve drone shows at Melbourne’s Docklands will not go ahead, grounded by the Covid pandemic.
The preparations of drone art company Celestial, including training, transportation and logistics, have been hampered by Covid ending hopes for the highly anticipated displays to go ahead on the night.
The city council hopes to salvage the drone shows next month, which are scheduled to start on Monday and run, twice-nightly, until January 30.
Two seven-minute drone swarm displays were to feature 350 individual units above Victoria Harbour forming festive images.
The Docklands celebration zone will still go ahead with fireworks and other entertainment from 6pm to 1am.
All 42,500 tickets for all four celebration zones in the city centre have sold out.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the decision was disappointing, particularly for local businesses.
“Despite the best efforts of the Celestial team, the rapidly changing environment has impacted their ability to deliver the show safely,’’ Cr Capp said.
“Everyone with tickets to each of the Celebration Zones, including at Docklands, can still enjoy a range of other festivities on New Year’s Eve, including localised fireworks, lighting displays, music and family-friendly entertainment.
“The Celestial team are working around the clock to resolve these issues in order to deliver the spectacular mass drone swarm as early as possible in the new year.’’
The city will also host seven New Year Street Feasts at Docklands (New Quay), Fed Square, Flinders Lane East, Flinders Lane West, Lt Bourke St, Lt Collins St, Russell Place.
The maximum forecast for Melbourne on New Year’s Eve is 38C and 36C for New Year’s Day.
The temperature as the clock strikes midnight for the start of the new year is expected to be 26C.
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