COVID-19 restrictions have once again blown out the candles for New Year’s Eve celebrations in Mount Gambier.

Mount Gambier New Year’s Eve Festival Committee chair Steve Toope said for the second year running the skies over the city will not be filled with the sights and sounds of fireworks and Vansittart Park will remain quiet.

Mr Toope said the risk of staging the event was becoming too high and cancelling was the “best and safest option”. “The organising committee for the event have made the sad decision to cancel the event for 2021,” he said.

“There were a number of factors contributing to the decision that included difficulty in attracting sponsorship, decline in available activities, attendance numbers and the conditions that would need to be put in place.

“For a small committee, it was becoming a major undertaking.” Mr Toope said he “firmly believes” there was no point in staging an event that would have been “under a financial cloud, delivered a lesser than expected event and not met community expectations”.

“The NYE celebrations did have a high regard in the community and there have been a number of people who have contributed to its success over many years, and the committee did not wish to tarnish or damage its reputation,” he said. “The committee feels for all community events that have been cancelled and the cancellations have robbed the broader community of the vibrancy community brings.

“Communities need community events. They are important. “We will have to wait until 2022 to see what the year will bring and if community events will be able to make a comeback. “The committee hopes the community can understand the decision that has been taken and not be too critical. “As chair I wish to thank the committee, supporters and all the sponsors for their efforts and commitment.”