Mildura New Year’s Eve event 2021: Council makes call amid COVID-19
Sunraysia residents have expressed their disappointment after Mildura’s annual New Year’s Eve event was cancelled. Find out why council pulled the pin.
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There won’t be fireworks over the Murray River at Mildura to welcome in 2021, with council’s annual New Year’s Eve event called off.
Mildura Rural City Council said in a statement the decision was due to COVID-19 restrictions on large, public gatherings.
Residents polled on The Mildura News Facebook page showed two-thirds of respondents did not agree with the cancellation.
Among them, one urged decision-makers to “stop with the what-ifs”.
“Don’t council think people want/deserve a bit of fun, something to look forward to?” they asked.
Another queried: “But it’s outside …”
The Mildura region has had 210 consecutive days without recording a new local coronavirus case.
As it stands, outdoor gatherings are only permitted with groups of up to ten people under Victorian Government rules.
Council said they were relying on the current public health advice.
“We understand our community’s disappointment at the decision to cancel this year’s NYE event,” the statement said.
“It’s one that has not been made lightly, and a disappointment we share.
“This event attracts more than of 5000 people each year, and unfortunately current health advice only allows 10 people to gather in public.
“It is unclear when these directions will change to allow larger-scale events to resume.”
The council has made event recovery grants available, which could potentially go to entertainment at venues hosting smaller New Year’s functions.
Among the one-third of residents who voted in support of the decision, there was understanding for why it was made.
“Disappointing to see this event cancelled, totally understandable considering the effort that goes into organising it,” one wrote.
Another remarked: “The money could be better used elsewhere.”
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