The City of Melbourne is making every effort to ensure the Moomba festival can proceed within COVID-19 restrictions for major events so the traditional Birdman Rally and Moomba Parade will not go ahead this year.
The Lord Mayor said COVID-safe plans for Moomba have been submitted to the Victorian Government and are currently being considered.
"The festival normally attracts more than 1.3 million people so we've had to make some major changes to our plans. We still think we can proceed with the festival in new and creative ways that will capture the hearts of Melburnians - just as Moomba has done since 1955," the Lord Mayor said.
"We've had to make a lot of tough decisions in the interests of community safety and the Birdman Rally does not form part of our plans for the Moomba festival this year. The Birdman Rally normally attracts almost 40,000 people in a confined space so it's just not possible during a pandemic."
"While the Birdman Rally can't go ahead this year, we're still planning colourful, free and family-friendly attractions to surprise and delight Melburnians."
"Moomba provides free family entertainment across the long weekend and helps keep cash registers ringing and Melburnians in jobs. More than 1,000 workers employed from more than 120 businesses and service providers are engaged to deliver Moomba."
The Birdman Rally began in 1976 and took a small break between 1994 and 1999. Last year a record $111,858 was raised for various charities as 16 competitors attempted to take flight across the Yarra River.
The Lord Mayor acknowledged that while some aspects will need to be changed, the City of Melbourne is hopeful the Moomba festival will proceed over the Labour Day long weekend (Friday 5 to Monday 8 March 2021).
"We will continue to monitor the latest health advice from the Victorian Government to continue our discussions to try and make sure this much-loved community event can proceed safely," the Lord Mayor said.
The Lord Mayor said the parade does not form plans for this year's festival. Last year's parade saw 1,900 performers and a range of colourful floats make their way past 32,500 people.
"Unfortunately the Moomba Parade cannot be delivered as a ticketed event, so it won't be going ahead on its usual route through Domain Parklands. Instead we are working on plans for a re-imagined Moomba Playground at the Queen Victoria Gardens," the Lord Mayor said.
"Under the plans submitted to the Victorian Government Moomba events would be ticketed to help ensure COVID-19 safety and to facilitate contact tracing. The majority of Moomba events would remain free to enter. Marshals would also be employed to help manage physical distancing requirements," the Lord Mayor said.
Moomba Festival is delivered by the City of Melbourne, which thanks its valued partners for their support, including the Victorian Government, Ticketek, oOh!media and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC).
