A large police presence is set to be out across the state tomorrow, particularly in beach areas and in Melbourne CBD, as temperatures soar into the high 30s.
Victoria Police Minister Lisa Neville has said she understands many Victorians want to celebrate New Year's Eve after what has been a tough year for many.
"We're only in this position because Victorians have done a lot of the hard yards over the past 12 months," she said.
However, she has warned Victorians to be safe in their celebrations.
"Let's not see tragedy over this New Year's Eve period."
Ms Neville said there would be a substantial amount of police and PSOs out across the state tomorrow, focusing on safety and ready to intervene in anti-social behaviour.
She asked people not attending an event or restaurant to "celebrate locally".
Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent said there would be a "major" police operation running right across the state, with thousands of extra police having been rostered to work.
"We will absolutely be out in force doing all we can to ensure people have a happy and safe New Year's celebration," he said.
DC Nugent has warned people to beware of the high heat forecast.
"We know that heat and excessive consumption of alcohol doesn't go well."
New Year's Eve has never looked like this
"Make sure you plan ahead and work out how you are going to get to and from your destination – it would be devastating to think that someone might not live to enjoy 2022 because of a bad decision made on New Year's Eve."
Victorians have also been asked to remember that masks are required in all public indoor settings and on public transport and in ride-share vehicles.
Celebrations in the CBD
Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said New Year's Eve celebrations in Melbourne CBD had been modified to be COVID-safe.
She said people needed to be fully-vaccinated and to have a ticket to enter public spaces in the city, which have been divided into designated "celebration zones".
Ms Capp said skyline fireworks were not occurring this year due to COVID-19, because the display attracted hundreds of thousands of people to the city.
She said the display was not in line with a COVID-safe line up of events.