The City of Rockingham has cancelled their New Year’s Eve celebrations over fears crowds will not follow COVID-safe rules.

Mayor Barry Sammels told Oliver Peterson WA not moving to “phase five” is to blame.

“We just find it impossible and impractical to put those two [square] metre distancing rules in place.”

Mayor Sammels removed any hope the event could be re-kindled if anything changed in the near future.

“They [State Government] were going to let it go another couple of months before looking at going to phase five.

“That takes us pretty close to Christmas and it’s too late for us to organise an event.”

Listen to the full interview: