By Rachael Dexter and Max Walden
Monday’s Moomba parade in Melbourne has been cancelled due to forecast severe heat, as drama engulfs another festival proceeding in extreme fire conditions in regional Victoria this weekend despite authorities warning people to stay away.
Organisers said in a statement that the Moomba parade “will not go ahead to ensure the safety of performers, spectators and our workers and volunteers”.
Moomba monarchs Emma Memma and Pete Helliar.
“Unlike other Moomba events where there’s good access to shade, water and cooling measures, parade participants are required to spend several hours outdoors in hot, heavy costumes – putting them at greater risk,” they said.
About 25 children and young people from the non-profit organisation L2R Dance were among those scheduled to march in the parade.
L2R’s chief executive and artistic director, Jacinda Richards, who runs free dance programs and employment pathways for young people in Melbourne’s west, said the cancellation was understandable but disappointing for her dance troupes, who had been working on their performances since Christmas.
“I think it’s a wise call but no doubt really disappointing for everyone that’s worked really hard for the last couple of months – or probably a year for the event organisers,” Richards said.
Janagarjana Dance and Music, a local Indian drumming collective, also planned to participate in the parade, as it has since 2017.
Satish Gaikwad, a spokesperson for the group, said Moomba organisers had clearly explained the reasons for the cancellation, especially given the involvement of children.
“I’m with them because they have to be careful with the severe weather warning. From a safety perspective, I agree with the decision the Moomba committee has taken. And I fully respect that … but yes, it was disappointing,” he said.
“We had our van booked to carry our musical instruments to the parade location on Monday morning and everybody was excited.”
With an extreme fire danger rating in place for Victoria’s south-west district this weekend, the Country Fire Authority advised festivalgoers yet to arrive at Pitch Music and Arts festival near Ararat to stay away.
Another dance festival, Esoteric in north-west Victoria, was dealing with an outbreak of suspected gastroenteritis among patrons.
Yarraville Festival in Melbourne’s inner-west, originally scheduled for Sunday, was also postponed due to the heat.
Despite the cancellation of the parade – Moomba’s centrepiece event – other events will go ahead as planned, including the carnival and Birdman Rally.
“This is a very difficult decision, particularly in Moomba’s 70th year – but we must prioritise people’s health and safety in these extreme conditions,” organisers said.
The five-day Pitch festival began on Friday on a private property in the hamlet of Moyston, 200 kilometres north-west of Melbourne.
About 18,000 people were expected to attend, most of them camping on-site, where mobile reception is limited.
Concerned loved ones and angry would-be attendees slammed the mixed messaging from organisers on social media on Saturday, who cautioned festivalgoers to “follow CFA advice” and stay away, without cancelling the event.
Late on Friday, organisers said on Facebook that the festival site was in an area under extreme fire danger warning: “The CFA recommends that the safest option for those who are already on-site is to leave the site tonight or early in the morning … reconsider travel through bushfire risk areas.
“If you are arriving on Saturday we recommend delaying your arrival until further notice.”
Buses into the festival were cancelled on Saturday, with some artists announcing on social media their sets had been cancelled by organisers. But a statement from Pitch on Saturday afternoon said “programming will commence at 6pm today … and will continue as scheduled for the remainder of the event”.
The statement said patrons already on-site who “wish” to leave and didn’t have cars could get a free shuttle to Ararat station until 6pm. “For those yet to arrive at the festival, we advise you to follow the CFA directions of delaying your travel.”
But, the statement went on: “Please come prepared for the heat, take care of yourself and look out for your friends. At the time of writing there are no active fires in the region, and we wish to reassure you that those who are on-site have access to ample shade, cooling misting fans, food and water.”
Aaron Smith said his 19-year-old daughter left Melbourne for the festival early Friday.
“I haven’t heard from her since 11am yesterday when she was arriving and there’s no way of contacting her,” he said. “My DMs [direct messages] are full of parents in the same situation.”
Smith said the updates from the festival organisers on social media were “not confidence-inspiring”. “It’s really confusing because it’s inconsistent, and it’s impossible to square the advice of not to come with not cancelling the event,” he said.
Other worried parents criticised the confusing messaging on Pitch’s social media accounts. “NEGLIGENT in the extreme Pitch! This event should have been cancelled days ago,” one wrote.
Other ticket-holders who were heeding the CFA’s advice demanded refunds. Tickets for the festival ranged from $449 to $500.
A CFA spokeswoman said the authority’s advice to Pitch organisers “was to put their emergency management plan into action, which they have done”.
“The advice to Pitch patrons is the same as the advice to anyone currently in an area where an extreme fire danger has been forecast,” she said. “Leaving bushfire areas early in the day is your safest option.”
Pitch Festival in 2017.
The spokeswoman also said the CFA “does not issue permits for events, we provide advice to local councils as a referring authority”.
Ararat Mayor Bob Sanders said while the council had issued the permit for the festival, it was not up to the council to force its cancellation.
“It’s up to emergency services to do what they think is necessary now,” he told The Age. “There will certainly be a thorough review after the event though.”
The forecast maximum for Moyston on Saturday is 38 degrees. The area is 57 kilometres west of Beaufort where a large bushfire – now under control – began two weeks ago.
Several festivals are being held over the long weekend, including Golden Plains in Meredith, 32 kilometres south-east of Ballarat.
The Victorian government was contacted for comment.