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Perth Australia Day 2022 Skyworks: Your guide the city’s celebrations

Bryce LuffThe West Australian
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Australia Day Skyworks will proceed as scheduled after WA recorded 24 new COVID-19 cases overnight.

After the virus forced the cancellation of the event in 2021, WA Premier Mark McGowan said today the health advice was that the event could go ahead - with some restrictions.

“We queried (if the Skyworks could go ahead) at length with the Chief Health Officer. He was confident the Skyworks could go ahead today,” he said.

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“The advice we had was that we could proceed on the basis that people wore masks and people use common sense.”

Perth’s Australia Day celebrations are among the largest in the country, with 250,000 regularly flocking to the Swan River foreshore.

Here’s your guide to Perth’s Australia Day celebrations in 2022.

WHAT’S ON

The Swan River will provide the stage for an Australia Day air show with aerobatic displays, skydivers and water drop demonstrations. The action starts at 3pm.

The free entertainment zone at Langley Park will also be a hive of activity thanks to a stack of food markets and amusements.

With the 30-minute spectacular taking place on the Swan River, it will be hard not to snag a good spot.
Camera IconWith the 30-minute spectacular taking place on the Swan River, it will be hard not to snag a good spot. Credit: Matt Jelonek/The West Australian

A stellar line up of Indigenous entertainment has been assembled for the annual Birak concert, celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island cultures.

Lilly Gogos, Flewnt and Pipeline Band are among this year’s line-up of WA talent, while there will also be community stalls, an Elders marquee and an appearance by the Perth Heat.

You can catch all the action at Supreme Court Gardens between 3pm and 7.30pm.

The City of Perth’s skyline will explode with colour at 8pm for the traditional pyrotechnic spectacular over the Swan River.

WA-based Cardile Fireworks have promised a variety of new tricks to ensure this won’t be your average fireworks display, with a volley of colour to be launched from dozens of barges on The Swan.

The free entertainment zone at Langley Park will include food markets and amusements.
Camera IconThe free entertainment zone at Langley Park will include food markets and amusements. Credit: Unknown/City of Perth

WHERE TO WATCH THE SKYWORKS

With the 30-minute spectacular taking place on the Swan River, it will be hard not to snag a good spot.

If you’re not lucky enough to snag a seat in a CBD building, there are allocated areas for boats on the Swan River, while Langley Park has a range of activities and is situated perfectly next to the action.

There’s also Supreme Court Gardens (located just west of Langley Park) as well as Sir James Mitchell Park (on the foreshore in South Perth), Kings Park and Elizabeth Quay.

COVID RESTRICTIONS

Local authorities this week backflipped on a requirement for Skyworks attendees to prove they are double-jabbed.

However masks must be worn and visitors are still “encouraged” by the City of Perth to be double vaccinated as well as to “practice physical distancing where possible”.

The Australian Nursing Federation has called for the fireworks to be cancelled, saying it could become a super-spreader event.

ANF WA secretary Mark Olson urged West Australians to stay home and watch the event on TV.

WHAT THE PREMIER SAID TODAY

“We queried (if the Skyworks could go ahead) at length with the Chief Health Officer. He was confident the Skyworks could go ahead today.”

“The advice we had was that we could proceed on the basis that people wore masks and people use common sense.

“I expect the turnout will be down considering what’s going on. I expect most people will do the right thing, overwhelmingly they will. Mask-wearing is compulsory.

“It’s one of those things you have to make these judgement calls and the advice was that it was safe to do so.”

WA Premier Mark McGowan.
Camera IconWA Premier Mark McGowan. Credit: Michael Wilson/The West Australian

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