Northern Beaches Council cancels Xmas carols and NYE fireworks due to coronavirus concerns
Two of the biggest festive events in Sydney have been cancelled with organisers concerned about the continued spread of COVID-19.
Manly
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Fears of the spread of COVID-19 has forced authorities to cancel major Christmas carol concerts and popular New Year’s Eve fireworks on Sydney’s northern beaches.
The council has confirmed it is dropping events including the massively popular Christmas Choral Concert at Manly Oval because of social distancing rules.
And the 9pm, December 31 fireworks displays at Manly Cove and Dee Why Beach, which attract tens of thousands of revellers, have also been cut.
The council said it was acting on advice about outdoor gatherings from medical experts at NSW Health. The move has been backed by Northern Beaches Police.
But Christmas has not been cancelled altogether.
Mayor Michel Regan is assuring residents, and tourists, that the money the council will save is going towards organising smaller events in town centres, parks and reserves across the northern beaches.
The council will instead put the funds towards smaller initiatives in the town centres and outdoor spaces such as public and street art, localised performers and carollers, lighting displays and hanging Christmas decorations.
Cr Regan said while it was a tough to cancel festive events, the decision was the “right thing to do” to protect the health and wellbeing of locals and visitors.
“The community’s health and safety is paramount and we could not guarantee large crowds could gather safely with the continued threat of possible COVID-19 infections,” he said.
“Obviously, this will be disappointing for many people which is why we have decided to reallocate the funds to provide localised entertainment, lights and street art to give our whole area a real festive buzz through the holiday period.
“This approach has the added benefit of supporting some local artists and musicians and we encourage locals to submit an Expression of Interest they’d like to be a part of it.”
Acting Northern Beaches Police commander Jill Walters supported the decision to cancel the New Year Eve’s fireworks.
“The health and safety of the general public is paramount and unfortunately due to COVID-19 the impact of the crowds due to the fireworks may have the potential to place people at risk,” she said.
Cr Regan said major events are subject to the NSW Government’s public health orders.
“Due to current health precautions in place, other community groups have also made the hard decision to cancel their Christmas carol events.
“Council supports those decisions as they are simply in the best interest of community safety.
“It would be irresponsible for us to encourage thousands of people to come together, potentially exposing them to infection because enforcing social distancing would be impossible.
“We look forward to the return of events to the community when it is safe to do so,” Cr Regan said.
WHAT’S CANCELLED:
Christmas Choral Concert, Manly
Christmas by the Beach, Dee Why
Carols by the Lake, Narrabeen (organised by Link Church) reimagined interactive online event, Saturday, 19 December, link.org.au/carols
Mona Vale Carols (organised by Rotary Club Upper Northern Beaches)
Frenchs Forest Carols by Candlelight (organised by Frenchs Forest Lions Club)
Avalon Carols (organised by Avalon SLSC)
New Year’s Eve fireworks, Manly, (in conjunction with Manly Wharf Hotel)
NYE fireworks at Dee Why Beach
Fireworks at Bayview (in conjunction with The Newport)