SALAMANCA SAFETY

City looks to put bollards in public spaces

BOLLARDS and other barriers could be installed around Salamanca Place in Hobart to make crowds safer from possible terrorist attacks such as in Barcelona, London and Nice.

Lord Mayor Sue Hickey has told the Mercury the Hobart City Council is examining the risks in relation to the Davey St entrance to Salamanca Place as well as in nearby Gladstone St and Montpelier Retreat.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday released Australia’s Strategy for Protecting Crowded Places From Terrorism.

Tasmania has several well attended festivals and events including the weekly Salamanca Market, Dark Mofo and the Taste of Tasmania festival around Salamanca Place and the waterfront areas.

“Council management has regular briefings with Tasmania Police and bollards will be looked at in detail,” Ms Hickey said.

She said council would be happy to remove all vehicles from Salamanca at certain times but traders did not want it as many sold their wares from the boots of their cars.

“There may have to a bit of compromise,” she said.

Police Minister Rene Hidding said yesterday that while people deserved to be able to attend public events and enjoy public spaces without fear, the sad reality was that they needed to be ever alert and vigilant to the threat of terrorism, as had been seen overseas.

“We will continue to work co-operatively with the Federal Government and owners and operators of crowded places to ensure Tasmanians are safe,” he said.

“The Strategy for Protecting Crowded Places from Terrorism is an important step in safeguarding our public spaces from any potential threat.”

The crowded places review, ordered after the Nice truck attack in France, has found that Australia already had robust arrangements in place to protect crowded places from terrorist attacks.

Deputy Commissioner Scott Tilyard said Tasmania Police had been working through the Australia-New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee (ANZCTC) to develop strategies for places such as stadiums, shopping centres, pedestrian malls and major events.

“The strategy aims to make crowded places as resilient as possible to terrorist attacks, while preserving our use and enjoyment of these places,” Mr Tilyard said.

“The owners of these places are responsible for their security and the role of Tasmania Police is to provide specific information on the local threat context and advice to assist owners.

“Tasmanians can be reassured that Tasmania Police, as the lead agency for counterterrorism preparedness and response in this state, is well prepared to respond to terrorist threats.

“Under the strategy, Tasmania Police is holding a series of forums for owners and operators.

“The forums will increase resilience, develop partnerships to prepare, prevent, respond and recover from a terrorist event, and provide threat information and general security guidance.

“The forums will facilitate stronger engagement with owners and operators of crowded places, including government agencies, businesses and councils.”

The strategy includes guidance on protective security and information to help owners and operators better understand terrorist weapons and tactics, including ‘active armed offenders,’ improvised explosive devices, chemical weapons and hostile vehicles.

Mr Turnbull said it was possible that the measures taken would enhance the amenity of crowded public places.

“I have never heard anybody for example say that they don’t like Pitt St Mall [Sydney] because of the bollards, because you don’t notice them,” he said.

“They are there and they are very effective.”

He said the Federal Government had worked with the states and territories through the Transport Security Committee to develop a security awareness guide for truck operators and drivers.

“The guide provides information on security measures that drivers and operators can undertake, indicators and warnings to help prevent a terrorist attack, and information on how to report suspicious or criminal behaviour to law enforcement,” Mr Turnbull said.

Premier Will Hodgman said on Friday that all arrangements would be reviewed.