Influx fears put Kalbarri fireworks in doubt

Organisers of Kalbarri’s Australia Day fireworks are sweating on the fate of the event after the City of Greater Geraldton cancelled its fireworks show because of COVID-19 crowd restrictions, prompting fears there will now be an influx of visitors there. Kalbarri Community Australia Day Fireworks organiser Loni Visser said she was “freaking out” people would travel in droves from Geraldton to watch the Kalbarri show, leaving local authorities with circumstances that were impossible to police. The Geraldton decision — revealed exclusively by the Geraldton Guardian on Tuesday — has now forced Kalbarri organisers to reassess their plans. “We’ll have a brainstorm and a chinwag ... we will have to make the correct decision to keep us COVID-19 safe,” Ms Visser said. She said she would liaise with other organisers, police and the Shire of Northampton to figure out if they could safely manage an influx of visitors. “If we have to have COVID-19 safety marshals, that may be an issue as it’s hard to find volunteers,” she said. Physical distancing requirements in WA prohibit events in spaces with less than 2sqm a person. As a result, Australia Day fireworks shows across the State have been axed. Ms Visser said Kalbarri residents had assumed the Geraldton show would go ahead as usual, and organisers would be able to keep their fireworks celebration small, involving only a few stalls and a DJ. There has been a mixed public response to the City’s decision to cancel its Australia Day fireworks show. Mayor Shane Van Styn urged Geraldton residents to be mindful of the rules, no matter where they travelled. He defended the council's decision to axe the event, saying the show usually attracted a crowd of 5000 people — an unmanageable amount given COVID-19 restrictions. Corporate sponsors usually pay for the fireworks in Geraldton but Mr Van Styn said the City would have been responsible for other logistical costs associated with COVID-19 restrictions. City of Greater Geraldton chief executive Ross McKim said the Australia Day program changes would allow 2500 attendees in a zoned-off area on the Geraldton Foreshore. “The City is also using QR scanners and ushers to manage attendance on the day to ensure the community’s safety and wellbeing is upheld. “All attendees will have to register their attendance prior to the day or at the event through Eventbrite,” he said. “Although the event is free, registration is essential.”