Melbourne Cup 2019: Drones to help keep racegoers safe
Amid fears of protests, drones will add to an increased CCTV presence in Melbourne.
Racegoers travelling via train to the Melbourne Cup will be under drone surveillance as the Victorian state government ramps up security ahead of the race that stops the nation.
The vision will be monitored by Victoria Police and Metro Train security staff who will be ready to react to a security incident on the tracks or infrastructure issue.
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As well as the two drones, a new mobile CCTV trailer fitted with thermal night imaging will target vandals and trespassers on the Flemington Racecourse line.
There are also concerns over Monday’s parade in the city’s CBD.
Victorian Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne said she wasn’t sure what privacy concerns there would be over the surveillance.
“What is of concern to me is we’ve got people making sure our network is safe,” she said.
The drones will be operated by 10 specially trained pilots, which along with the 9000 CCTV cameras already in place across Melbourne will capture footage of racegoers heading to Flemington.
Metro Trains will store the footage until its requested by Victoria Police.
“We’ve got CCTV across all our road and rail networks,” Ms Horne said.
“This is part of keeping our public transport moving safely and securely.”
Around 1000 extra train and tram services to and from Flemington Racecourse line will be deployed during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
A woman protesting offshore detention parked her car on train tracks on the Flemington Racecourse line last year, causing train delays of an hour with racegoers walking to the Melbourne Cup in their finery.
Ms Horne said she respected the right to protest but racegoers had the right to get to the turf.
“What I would say is I absolutely respect your right to protest but let’s make sure our network is safe and people keep moving.”
Extinction Rebellion climate protesters caused havoc in Melbourne over the month of October, with activists gluing themselves to road and chaining their arms together in key intersections in the city.
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