Terror spreads to the suburbs as fears malls are soft targets
FEARS Sydney’s suburbs are the potential new targets for terrorists has forced councils to spend millions of dollars ‘terror-proofing’ their high streets and public places.
NSW
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SYDNEY’S suburbs are now seen as the latest terrorist target, forcing councils to scramble to protect against a “probable” attack.
Council across Sydney are quietly spending millions to terror-proof our suburbs, from concrete seats that double as bollards to ring-fenced event spaces, beefed-up CCTV, evacuation signage and vehicle blockades at festivals.
One suburban council general manager said: “Our suburbs are softer targets now if terror cells become more sophisticated. All of us are aware of that”.
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Randwick Council is spending $6 million on anti-terror measures in Coogee, La Perouse, Maroubra and Randwick.
Work in Coogee starts next month and is being paid for by an increase in council rates.
Penrith Council has been given $293,000 by the federal government to install bollards up to 2.5m tall at High St.
Those works will be completed by December this year and are specially designed for “hostile vehicle mitigation”.
Bollards have already been installed in Parramatta’s Centenary Square.
Fairfield Council will ring-fence their new $19 million showground precinct, while Blue Mountains Council is installing anti-terror technology at Echo Point worth $638,000.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner and Counter Terrorism Commander Mick Willing said “rudimentary forms of attack can occur anywhere”.
“I don’t necessarily say that they (the suburbs) are a soft target, but an attack could occur in a regional area or a part of metropolitan Sydney outside the CBD,” he said.
“It is just as likely as in anywhere else. A crowded place is a crowded place. With the threat level being probable, and little chance that is going to change in the future, the threat is evolving.”
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The suburban security upgrade follows the 2016 terrorist attack in the southwest Sydney suburb of Minto, where Ihsas Khan allegedly stabbed Wayne Greenhalgh as he was walking his dog down the street.
The Nice terror attack in France — where a 19-tonne truck driven by terrorist Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel ploughed through crowds killing 86 people and injuring 434 — has also influenced security agencies.
At the start of this year police crash-tested trucks into various structures to work out the best bollards to stop terror attacks. That is being passed on to councils.
Assistant Commissioner Willing said officers from the Terrorism Protection Unit are this month travelling to Dubbo and Wollongong to inform councils, event organisers and business owners about how they can best protect crowds.
Similar forums have already been held in Parramatta and the CBD.
Although they are not required to, councils often consult with police and security experts during the design phase of major public projects.
Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone said increased risk has also meant councils and event organisers are spending more money on security for public events and festivals.
With 80,000 people expected on September 23 for Cabramatta’s Moon Festival, he said security would be a major focus.
“We use concrete barriers, parked vehicles and evacuation signs,” he said.
“Before every event we liaise with the police. There is no doubt security has increased in the past two years. If we did not do it and someone dies, people will ask why we didn’t do anything.”
Hills Shire Council general manager Michael Edgar said: “Regrettably we all need to be much more aware of risks”.