Melbourne Christmas 2021: Pressure on councils to rethink carols, Ivanhoe Boulevard Lights

Crowd caps for outdoor events are set to lift by December, but Melbourne councils are still going the Grinch on festive fun.

Chandlar Sutterby, Edna Mahina and Tanya Sutterby will have a huge lights display on The Boulevard this year, despite Banyule Council opting to not support the event. Picture: Jason Edwards

Melbourne councils playing Grinch are being called on not to cancel Christmas events, as fed-up festive communities prepare to stage their own.

Several councils are refusing to stage much-loved suburban carols, despite almost all coronavirus restrictions lifting a month ahead of Christmas.

It includes Monash Council, which has even ruled out a scaled-back version of its Carols by Candlelight at Jells Park, which attracts up to 25,000 people.

And Frankston’s Festival of Lights won’t go ahead, while Knox said it would only put on a virtual carols event.

Knox, Monash and Bayside councils have all said they are unable to change their plans not to stage outdoor carols in the short time frame.

Stonnington, Whittlesea and Kingston won’t hold their usual large carols events, while other councils including Maroondah and Whitehorse are yet to make a decision. Moonee Valley Council will host small “pop-up” performances.

Ratepayers Victoria president Dean Hurlston said “there can be no excuse” for councils cancelling events.

“It’s time for councils to ensure Christmas carols and events proceed in a Covid-safe manner,” he said.

“Residents, businesses and ratepayers need all the support they can get. It’s good for the economy and for everyone’s mental health.’’

Chandlar, Edna and Tanya hope others in the Boulevard decorate their homes too. Picture: Jason Edwards

Residents on The Boulevard, in Ivanhoe, have declared that they will decorate their homes. It comes despite Banyule Council refusing to offer its usual support, such as traffic management, entertainment and promotion.

A council spokesman said it could not obtain a Covid-safe permit for the popular event “or pre-empt any changes to restrictions” because of its scale, and complexity.

Lee Sutterby and his family, who have one of the street’s biggest displays, will go “all out” this year with a summer beach theme.

“People are sick to death of rules and regulations, and to not support the lights at 90 per cent (fully vaccinated) is madness,” Mr Sutterby said. “If everything else is opening up, why can’t the lights go ahead? We’ll be starting to set up in December and we hope others do the same.”

Other Melbourne festive favourites – Carols by Candlelight and the Myer windows – will proceed, with confirmation of patron numbers at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl expected as early as next week.

Residents of Albert Park are also forging ahead with their Lakeside Carols – even though it will become a street party – on December 2.

Event co-ordinator Louisa Corke said it was too late to change the venue back to the lake but the “absolutely enormous” enthusiasm from residents and businesses would ensure a fun night.

“We just want to spread some cheer and joy. People are keen to be together,’’ she said.

Banyule Council said it would be Victoria Police’s job to monitor crowds and traffic on The Boulevard during December, and that it was also planning a Covid-safe carols event at Greensborough War Memorial Park.

Bayside Council said the lack of clarity on restrictions until recently, and the time needed to plan a large public event, made it difficult to reinstate Bayside Christmas Carols in the Park.

Knox Council will host a virtual carols event.

“Given the preparation and logistics required to run a public event and the uncertainty of what restrictions will allow, changing plans (for a virtual event) to an outdoor event would not be practical,” Mayor Lisa Cooper said.

Monash Mayor Brian Little ruled out “even a scaled-back version” of the Jells Park carols event because of the tight turnaround. Frankston Mayor Kris Bolam said its festival street party, which attracted up to 50,000 people, could not be rolled out in four weeks.

But Maroondah Council is planning to host a Covid Safe carols in the Town Park in Croydon in early December.