How COVID has New Year’s Eve fireworks under a cloud
It’s the event that lights up the city but this year’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display is up in the air as uncertainty looms over crowds due to the coronavirus pandemic. See what celebrations are being considered to ring in 2021.
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Melbourne’s spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks display is under a cloud due to uncertainty about ongoing pandemic restrictions.
The City of Melbourne is reviewing plans for major events this year, and will look at putting on “virtual” shows to be viewed in “safe and managed” environments if necessary.
About 400,000 people usually attend New Year’s Eve celebrations in the CBD costing ratepayers about $3.4 million, including $240,000 for the fireworks.
Last year, 14,000kg of fireworks were launched from 22 city rooftops, with shows at 9.30pm and midnight.
However, Lord mayor Sally Capp said that this year was looking to be much different.
“We’re looking at a range of scenarios, but events that draw hundreds of thousands of people, such as fireworks, may not be included,’ she said.
“We will be guided by the health restrictions, but we wouldn’t do anything that puts Melburnians – particularly our health or emergency services – at risk.”
Ms Capp said that the next few weeks would be critical in understanding what would be possible for the New Year’s Eve celebrations and events like the Christmas Festival.
“I’ll be requesting the City of Melbourne team to investigate how we can use technology to facilitate virtual shows that allow Melburnians to enjoy creative performances in safe and managed environments,” she said.
“We’re looking at safe and creative ways to keep programming events and activities that will bring energy and people back to the city.”.
City trading has been decimated by state government shutdowns, with council data showing that pedestrian traffic is about 90 per cent down on the same time last year.
Prepandemic, about a million people a day would be in the CBD for work or shopping, but the central city has been reduced to a ghost town.
The Lord Mayor said: “It’s crucial that we preserve and support our local businesses that make Melbourne so special. We look forward to doing that when restrictions start to ease over the coming months, and into the Christmas and New Year’s Eve period.”
Ms Capp has previously suggested that a giant street party could be held to celebrate the reopening of the city.
Possible roads that could be fully or partially closed to traffic include Collins St, Lygon St, Carlton, Errol St, North Melbourne, Waterfront Way, Docklands, Riverside Quay, Southbank and Chinatown laneways.
Also being considered is allowing inner city bars, cafes and restaurants to “spread out” on to footpaths and streets to enable more trading as restrictions are eased.
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