By Roy Ward
More than 500,000 people are predicted to spend New Year’s Eve in Melbourne’s CBD, and authorities say they are ready to put on a big show but also crack down on troublemakers.
The fireworks and laser show at midnight will be the centrepiece of the evening. Police and Community Safety Minister Anthony Carbines said the event would bring in $18 million and be visible from as far as Ferntree Gully and Frankston.
New Year’s fireworks in Melbourne a year ago. Credit: AAP
Family-friendly celebration zones will also operate from 6pm at Treasury Gardens, Flagstaff Gardens, the Shrine of Remembrance and Docklands with localised fireworks shows set for 9.30pm viewable at each site. Public transport across Melbourne will be free from 6pm until 6am to get revellers to and from the city safely.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece urged people to make the most of the occasion and enjoy the celebration zones, which will feature DJs, music and other festivities, plus views of the fireworks.
“Melbourne is really going to celebrate in a spectacular way this year, with 27 buildings part of a fireworks display, over 60 lasers. There’ll be more lasers than a Star Wars film, putting on a spectacular show for Melbourne,” he said.
“It’s truly going to be a night to remember, a night where all Melburnians can come out, have a great time, play it safe and celebrate together in this fantastic city.”
The celebration zones will be alcohol-free, and people can bring a picnic or make use of food vans and other outlets around the zones.
Pyrotechnics provider Rusty Johnson will lead the team that stages Melbourne’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display.Credit: Chris Hopkins
While authorities expect the majority of revellers to have a happy and safe New Year’s Eve, Carbines warned that anyone causing trouble or setting off illegal fireworks would be found and punished.
He reminded revellers that 234 security cameras would be operating around the CBD along with scores of police, public security officers and paramedics.
Police have promised a swift response to any troublemakers, especially those carrying weapons. Designated areas will be set up in the city centre as well as the St Kilda foreshore and Geelong CBD where officers can search people for weapons.
Superintendent Troy Papworth said thousands of police and protective service officers would be working on the night to keep those in the city and suburbs and at train stations safe.
“From the roads to railway stations, foreshores to key regional areas, there will be an around-the-clock, highly visible police presence right across the state,” he said.
“We will have a particular focus on the city, to ensure the hundreds of thousands of people coming in to see the fireworks display are safe.
“We’ve seen overwhelmingly positive behaviour at New Year’s Eve celebrations in recent years, with only a small number of people choosing to do the wrong thing. Rest assured, anyone heading out to cause trouble can expect a swift response from police.”
Police said there were more than 60 illegal fireworks incidents during last year’s New Year’s Eve. Offenders face up to five years’ jail and thousands of dollars in fines.
The death of a 19-year-old Whittlesea man on Christmas Day after a firework explosion in Kalkallo has offered a reminder of the danger of fireworks, while firefighters have also reminded Victorians that with much of the state tinder-dry, fireworks could ignite fires and cause significant damage.
“It, unfortunately, is a tragic reminder of what could go wrong,” Fire Rescue Victoria deputy commissioner Joshua Fischer said.
“It’s extremely dry, so if these fireworks occur in areas where there’s grassland or dry bushland, we’re likely to see fires ignite.
“They’re going to spread very, very quickly. Even under moderate or high fire danger, we’re going to see fires spreading in grasslands very, very quickly.”
Authorities have urged revellers to leave their cars at home and use public transport. A number of road closures and detours will be enforced on roads around the CBD to ensure crowds can move around safely.
With AAP
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