The Sidney Myer Music Bowl is hosting a live gig this month to test Melbourne's reopening settings.
The Victorian Government is testing the state’s preparedness to live under ‘COVID-normal’ with trials of vaccine passports beginning on Monday, October 11 and with two major events including a live music concert and a crowd of 10,000 fans at the Melbourne Cup.
The key takeaways
- The Sidney Myer Music Bowl is hosting a live gig this month to test Melbourne’s reopening settings, alongside crowds at Melbourne Cup.
- It’s occurring as part of what’s being dubbed ‘vaccinated economy trials’, with the state testing the rules and requirements that’ll be in place as both Melbourne and Victoria open up even further
- Trials in regional Victoria kick off today which will guide the second phase of trials for 80 per cent double-dose settings.
Keep up with the latest festival news via our website.
Announced yesterday, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews revealed that The Sidney Myer Music Bowl will host a concert on Saturday, October 30 featuring a lineup that will play live and to a huge crowd to test the city’s reopening setting and signalling the return of live music across the state with gigs to return to pubs and concert halls (finally).
“Subject to consideration of the venue’s COVIDSafe Plan and approval from the Chief Health Officer, several thousand people will be able to watch Victorian artists perform and celebrate the return of live music at one of Melbourne’s most iconic outdoor venues,” Andrews said.
“Smaller gigs are planned around the state at the same time, subject to approval from the Chief Health Officer.”
“I can’t provide a precise number of patrons allowed, but there is plenty more to be done there. As part of the mature vaccinated economy trials, there’ll be several thousand double-vaccinated [people] who can attend that live music event,” said the Premier.
“That’s incredibly important for them and for the live music scene. We are the live music capital of our nation that has had it very tough. We have been there to support them all the way through, but they want to get out and perform and do what they do best. That’s two entertain and inspire, to question all of us, to be that incredibly soulful part of our city and state. That’s 30 October,” Andrews continued.
The exact lineup, how many people will be permitted to go along and how you can score tickets haven’t yet been revealed; however, Andrews did reveal that the concert will be for a solely double-vaccinated audience. The event is due to go ahead just days after the state hits the 70-percent fully jabbed mark, which is when lockdown ends and more restrictions will begin to ease on October 26, taking place ahead of the 80-percent double-vaccinated mark, when even more rules are set to loosen.
Similarly, up to 10,000 racing fans will be at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November in a little over three weeks – days after music lovers across Melbourne attend the city concert. Usually attracting up to 100,000 people, the Melbourne Cup will likely be split into four zones of about 2500 people, spread across the expanses of Flemington, plus a fifth zone exclusively for racing participants such as jockeys and trainers and the VRC will rely on new QR code technology to prove vaccination status on entry.
These Vaccinated Economy trials will allow more people to safely attend venues and events when all patrons are fully vaccinated. The venues will test event settings attached to the 80 per cent double-vaccination mark on Victoria’s Roadmap to Deliver the National Plan – a threshold due to be achieved on or before 5 November.
If the 80 per cent double-jab threshold has been passed, we’ll also see crowds of 10,000 vaccinated patrons able to attend Flemington on Oaks Day and Stakes Day.
These events will follow the first stage of trials under the 70 per cent double dose settings which kick off from Monday at regional venues including cinemas, hotels, and cafes, as well as a gym, a church and a beauty clinic. These regional trials over the next two weeks will guide the second phase of trials for 80 per cent double-dose settings.
Some 14 venues and events in six local government areas will operate with higher capacity and density limits, including a midweek race meeting at Warrnambool on Thursday, 14 October.
The participants in the Vaccinated Economy trial include Bass Coast (North Pier Hotel in Cowes, Churchill Island Cafe), Buloke (Terminus Hotel in Wycheproof), East Gippsland (East Gippsland Art Gallery in Bairnsdale, Lakes Squash and Movie Theatre in Lakes Entrance), Greater Bendigo (Anglican Church of Australia in Flora Hill, Bendigo Art Gallery, Village Cinemas in Bendigo, Body Fit Training in Bendigo), Pyrenees (Avoca Hotel), and Warrnambool (Darlings of Beauty, Roberts One Real Estate, Warrnambool Racing Club race meeting & Warrnambool Art Gallery).
The trials will allow real-world testing of the vaccine certification technology, confirm the best processes for establishing vaccination status, as well as fine-tuning training for staff and support for business owners and public communication of vaccine requirements.
Victorians attending a Vaccinated Economy trial business or event will be asked to show they are fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 digital certificate displayed through the Service Victoria app, Medicare app, or equivalent smartphone wallet, or present a printed version of their certificate or immunisation history statement, or provide evidence of a valid exemption.
Victorians can add their COVID-19 digital certificate to the Service Victoria app through MyGov or the Express Medicare Plus App.
You can read the Premier’s announcement here
