Sydney fortifies against attacks; Melburnians told to behave
Sydney’s New Year’s Eve will be held under a massive security presence while Melburnians are warned to behave by police.
Sydney’s New Year’s Eve will be under the watchful eye of a massive police and security presence with more than one million revellers expected in the CBD. Dozens of officers armed with Colt M4 semi-automatic rifles will be on guard to protect crowds during the massive celebrations.
Riot squad officers will be equipped with military-style semi-automatic rifles to launch a tactical armed assault in response to any high-risk situation such as a vehicle attack or mass stabbing.
Sydney’s $7 million display will this year include a rainbow waterfall of fireworks cascading from the Harbour Bridge to celebrate the victory of same-sex marriage in Australia.
NSW authorities are warning of significant road closures on New Year’s Eve throughout Sydney, including the Harbour and Anzac bridges, and have urged the public to use trains and buses rather than cars during the evening. More than 4500 extra public transport services will be running to and from the city as the city is swamped with revellers celebrating the end of 2017. Meanwhile Better Regulation Minister Matt Kean has warned Sydneysiders to beware of New Year’s “fizzers” and to report parties and promoters that fail to deliver on ticketed events.
“When you’ve been looking forward to an event all year, and hand over large sums of your heard-earned money, you rightly expect a fun night out,” Mr Kean said in a statement.
“However, in recent years we’ve instead seen some notorious events where parties have been cancelled at the last minute, or closed down because there were too many attendees.” Mr Kean said partygoers were protected by Australian Consumer Law and can demand refunds or compensation if events don’t match advertising.
Meanwhile, Victorian revellers have been warned to behave and not spoil New Year’s Eve celebrations in Melbourne for others as the countdown to 2018 begins.
Police will flood the city centre and party hot-spots to stamp out any drunk and disorderly behaviour, Victoria Police says.
“We want to see everyone enjoy themselves but to also reflect on their own behaviour and the actions of those close to them,” Assistant Commissioner Andrew Crisp said on Friday.
An estimated half a million people are expected to flood into Melbourne to ring in the new year but police say they don’t want people to behave inappropriately. “It is why we’re focusing on anti-social behaviour, violence, and drink and drug driving,” Mr Crisp said.
Specialist squads including Water Police, Mounted Branch, Public Order would be deployed if needed, the assistant commissioner said.
Extra trains, trams and regional services will run in order to get revellers home safe, a Public Transport Minister spokeswoman said.
“We’re putting on 541 extra train services to and from the city on New Year’s Eve on top of the normal Sunday service - which is 100 more services than last year,” the spokeswoman said.
However because New Years Eve falls on a Sunday, Night Network bus services will not operate, she said
AAP
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