Police were out in force in Melbourne's CBD on New Year's Eve to curb trouble and show safety in numbers after the thwarted Christmas Day terror attacks.

The event appears to have been largely trouble free, and the fireworks spectacular. Perhaps even as good as Lord Mayor Robert Doyle's claim that they would be the best the city had ever seen.

But despite the celebrations, the police presence was extremely heavy. Uniformed officers swarmed through Federation Square, Swanston Street and Collins Street from around 6pm.

By 9.30pm when the "early Eve" fireworks began, police numbers had grown still more. There were no reports of arrests.

Deputy Commissioner Andrew Crisp said police were encouraging people to celebrate safely and responsibly.

"We will be focusing on anti-social behaviour, violence, and drink and drug driving. Everyone needs to stay safe as 2016 ends and the new year begins," he said.

Last year, there were 126 people arrested on New Year's Eve across Victoria, which included 65 for being drunk in a public place.

Deputy commissioner Crisp said uniform and plain-clothes police and specialist squads, including the Water Police, Mounted Branch, Operations Response Unit and Air Wing, would be deployed across the state.

Police helicopters were flying over Federation Square at 9.45pm. Mounted police on horses rode through Federation Square at 10pm.

Police also chose New Year's Eve to launch a new police monitoring centre in Flinders Street.

The Victoria Police Monitoring and Assessment Centre, according to deputy commissioner Crisp, will be the "eyes and ears of frontline policing for issues including terrorism, crime, traffic and public order".

The centre has access to real-time information from Triple Zero calls, CCTV and social media. One of its aims is for police to respond quickly to "unplanned events or gatherings".

In Gippsland, a 46-year-old man was killed after a firecracker exploded in his face at 9.30pm.

An Ambulance Victoria spokesman said earlier in the night that the Hollands Landing man was in a critical condition with head and facial injuries.