Bollard bid to protect Melbourne’s CBD from terrorist attacks

MORE anti-terrorism measures are coming to Melbourne, something Lord Mayor Robert Doyle says will change the city “probably forever”.

Bollards on Princes Bridge. Picture: Jay Town

• MELBOURNE TERROR ATTACK TARGETS NAMED
• CONCRETE BOLLARDS SECURITY FLAW
• BOURKE ST RAMPAGE ACCUSED EXCUSED FROM COURT

INNER Melbourne is set to look much different under a comprehensive security plan to deter high speed vehicle attacks by terrorists.

Melbourne City Council is finalising a strategy that will see the CBD fitted with more bollards of varying designs and special road treatments to stop cars mounting kerbs.

Places like Princes Bridge, parts of Southbank and the future plaza at the redeveloped Queen Victoria Market have been identified as potential terrorist hot spots.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle will take the plan to a high level counter-terrorism roundtable in London next month that will also be attended by the mayors of cities like Paris, Barcelona and Rotterdam.

Cr Doyle was invited to the Home Office and New Scotland Yard event by England’s former Chief Commissioner Metropolitan Police Lord Bernard Hogan-Howe, who has previously advised the Lord Mayor on security options for Melbourne.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle

In January, six pedestrians were killed in Bourke St after a car was driven at high speed through the CBD.

Dimitrious Gargasoulas has been charged with several counts of murder over the incident.

Cr Doyle said the council had developed its “city defence” plan in conjunction with state and federal police and other government agencies.

“We are about to spend money in the city on bollards, and different sorts of obstructions that will change the face of the city, probably forever,” he told the Herald Sun.

Dozens of concrete bollards have already been installed in the CBD, but the new plan will include the provision of planter boxes, so-called silver bullet bollards and other structures that are connected to each other underground to boost strength.

“You can actually do curved treatments (on roads) that mean cars can’t mount the kerb and get on to the footpath,” the Lord Mayor said.

Cr Doyle said he expected planter boxes to be put into the Bourke St Mall, and special measures introduced for Princes Bridge, which has just had concrete bollards installed at each end of the footpath.

‘It’s a matter of making sure that you can’t use the bike lane to pick up speed and get up on to the bridge,” he said.

A proposed plaza at the redeveloped Queen Victoria Market has also been earmarked for anti-terrorist measures. Cr Doyle will attend the Policing Safer Cities counter-terrorism roundtable and UK Security Expo in London at an estimated cost to ratepayers of $11,000.

A senior member of Victoria Police is also expected to attend the events.

@JMasanauskas