How Melbourne will look this New Year’s Eve
Social distancing rules mean Melbourne is in for a very different New Year’s Eve this year. See what alternative plans are in store to celebrate the start of 2021.
Victoria
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New Year’s Eve will be much different in Melbourne this year, with the iconic fireworks display unlikely to be part of the entertainment.
Instead, Melburnians and visitors will be invited to attend special activities and events based in key precincts in partnership with local businesses.
Freshly re-elected Lord Mayor Sally Capp said that social distancing rules meant that “being able to welcome 400,000 people in and around the streets of Melbourne is going to be very difficult”.
“So we’re turning our minds to a program where people can come in to say goodbye to 2020 and welcome in 2021, but it will be a program that revolves around ticketing, and ways in which we can manage crowds to ensure that everybody can comply with the restrictions in place,” she said.
While Ms Capp did not completely rule out fireworks, it’s understood that the spectacular display is unlikely to go ahead given huge crowds will not be allowed to gather for some time.
“We are working on a program for people to be able to come in and safely celebrate New Year’s Eve, and really looking at having an extension of our Christmas program into New Year’s Eve and beyond,” she said.
“(We want) to maximise opportunities for people to visit the city, enjoy themselves and support our small businesses.”
“We’re working with a number of scenarios, talking to different partners, and identifying the safest way that people can celebrate New Year’s Eve.”
It’s understood that it could involve people booking events that might include a seat at a restaurant or a bar.
Last year, hundreds of thousands of people attended New Year’s Eve celebrations in the CBD costing ratepayers about $3.4 million, including $240,000 for the fireworks.
About 14,000kg of fireworks were launched from 22 city rooftops, with shows at 9.30pm and midnight.
The Lord Mayor, who is due to meet Premier Daniel Andrews next week, said she would continue advocating for more flexible ways for businesses to reopen and maximise customer numbers in the inner city.
“We know that this period of lockdown has disproportionately impacted businesses in the City of Melbourne, and every day counts, particularly in this Christmas quarter for welcoming customers and patrons, diners and supporters back into the city to help our small business owners and their teams,” she said.
Ms Capp said the council had been talking to big employers about their Covid-safe plans for returning workers to town.
“We know that it will be productive for them to come back, both in terms of their own businesses, but for supporting all of the little businesses from cafes, bars and restaurants, little gift shops, florists, dry cleaners - there’s an entire ecosystem that’s looking forward to welcoming workers back to the city,” she said.
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