Plan for new bollards at key Melbourne sites

NEW permanent bollards will be rolled out at key sites across the city in a bid to fortify Melbourne against rogue vehicle attacks. See the plans.

FLINDERS Street station will be fortified against rogue vehicle attacks with dozens of new permanent bollards bordering an expanded entrance of the city landmark.

Permanent concrete blocks will also be installed along Princes Bridge and extra planter boxes and street furniture put in the Bourke St Mall to thwart attacks.

Work will begin by December.

Concept designs for the security upgrades — introduced in the wake of last year’s Bourke St attack — will be released today.

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The Bourke St mall proposal. Picture: Victorian Government

The overhaul at Flinders St station will create 130sq m of extra forecourt space and widen the pedestrian crossing by more than 3m. A total of 53 steel bollards as well as barriers will be installed.

Police Minister Lisa Neville told the Herald Sun: “The Flinders Street upgrades will improve safety for thousands of pedestrians and visitors to our city who cross this intersection at peak times — it will also improve pedestrian flow outside the station.

“While there is no way to completely eliminate risk, we are doing everything we can to keep pedestrians safe.”

Reinforced concrete blocks and permanent bollards designed by heritage architects will line Princes Bridge, replacing temporary structures.

Extra measures in the Bourke St Mall — on top of those already in place — will include new street furniture, planter boxes and bollards lining the tram tracks.

But retractable bollards between tracks at the mall’s entrances have been ruled out for safety and engineering reasons.

The overhaul at Flinders St station will create 130sq m of extra forecourt space. An artist’s concept. Picture: Victorian Government

The plan for Princes Bridge. Artist’s concept. Picture: Victorian Government

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the upgrade would help ensure “a safe environment for everyone who visits, lives and works in our great city so they can enjoy all that Melbourne has to offer”.

Traffic arrangements outside Flinders St station will be relatively unchanged, with motorists still able to turn left or right from St Kilda Rd.

A cycling lane remains.

“I’m pleased that as well as improving safety, extra space for pedestrians outside Flinders Street station will help people move more easily through one of our busiest intersections,’’ Cr Capp said.

Permanent anti-terror security measures will be introduced at six other city sites — Federation Square, Southbank, Southern Cross Station, the State Library, Queen Victoria Market, and Olympic Boulevard — by the end of next year.

Victoria Police North West Metro Region Commander Tim Hansen said: “The installation of protective bollards and barriers at nine sites across the CBD will further enhance the safety of people who walk and ride through the city every day.’’

“The community can be assured that Victoria Police will continue to work with our partner agencies to maximise public safety and that we are well prepared and resourced to monitor and respond to situations that may arise,’’ Mr Hansen said.

The upgrades are part of a $50 million security revamp of Melbourne’s CBD after Dimitrious Gargasoulas allegedly killed six people and injured dozens in a crazed car rampage in January last year.

Changes also include dozens of public warning loudspeakers across the city and 31 new CCTV cameras while police have introduced a strike squad armed with sub-machine guns who roam Melbourne’s CBD to instantly respond to any terror attacks.

Progress on security works at the nine CBD sites will be updated at www.vic.gov.au/melbournesecurityupgrade.

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