Barriers to be erected to protect Manly from Islamic State-style truck attack

Northern Beaches Council has approved an $800,000 project to erect barriers in Manly to prevent an Islamic State-style truck terror attack.

The barriers will protect busy areas such as The Corso

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Barriers will be erected around Manly to prevent an Islamic State-style truck terror attack.

Councillors on Northern Beaches Council voted for the $800,000 project following the advice of police.

The barriers will be erected at the entrances to The Corso, near to Manly Wharf and near the beachfront.

Council officers said the barriers would be largely inconspicuous and would include strategically planted mature trees, anchored planter boxes and engineerd bollards.

The protective measures are in response to a number of terror attacks in recent years in which trucks and other vehicles have been used to mow down large gatherings of people.

A truck was driven into crowds celebrating Bastille Day in the French Riviera city of Nice on July 15, 2016. Picture: AFP / BORIS HORVAT

Twelve peoples were killed when a truck was driven into Christmas markets in Berlin in December 2016. Picture: AFP PHOTO / Tobias SCHWARZ

Former policeman and Cr Pat Daley has been among those who have called for the barriers to be put in place.

“Unfortunately that is the way of the world at the moment,” he said. “We have seen terrorists using vehicles as weapons and Manly is a place with a lot of foot traffic. It would be negligent for us not to take action.

“We need to make it as difficult as possible for anyone who may be thinking of doing something.”

The council successful applied to the Federal Government for a $400,000 grant to pay for the works.

The remaining $400,000 will come from the council’s working capital in the 2019/20 capital works program.

Pat Daley has said the measures are necessary given the current climate. Picture: Adam Yip/ Manly Daily

The council will also spend another $100,000 to come up with a plan for protecting other areas across the peninsula.

Cr Daley said the barriers would be effective while not being to the detriment of the character of the area.

“It is sad that we need to do this but it is necessary.

“It is about prevention. People need to remain vigilant.”

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