Canberra lockdown: The bulbs are in but crowds are out as Floriade cancelled for second year running

Chief Minister Andrew Barr on Saturday confirmed Floriade and Nightfest would be cancelled for a second year in a row, and would look similar to last year's event where flowers were distributed around the ACT.

"It's just not safe to operate large-scale events in any capacity in these circumstances," Mr Barr said.

"Now, obviously, the bulbs have been planted in Commonwealth Park. And they will bloom throughout spring, but the government is discouraging large-scale gatherings at this time.

"Planter boxes and pots that were to feature in the park will instead be distributed around the ACT to accompany the 300,000 bulbs that were planted by community groups that were planted right around Canberra."

The event was due to be held from Septemer 11 to October 10.

Bulbs have also been planted by community groups around Canberra as part of a program of suburban flower displays.

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The displays were first started last year as part of Floriade Reiminaged, which brought flowers to the suburbs after the 2020 event was cancelled.

The 2020 Floriade event was cancelled in April that year, before the bulbs had been planted.

Mr Barr had expressed hope in April the event could go ahead in Commonwealth Park.

"Floriade is a large outdoor event and so it does have that principle advantage, and it is in the spring time, so we will hopefully be emerging from peak respiratory disease season by the time Floriade is underway," he said at the time.

Floriade contributed more than $44 million to the ACT visitor economy in 2019, the last time the event was held in Commonwealth Park.

But contingency plans for the flower festival were already being developed in July, amid growing concern the event would need to be modified as Covid outbreaks prompted lockdowns in other parts of Australia.

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