GOLD COAST BULLETIN

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

REVELLERS planning a 12-hour race day and concert session were warned they would be turned away if they were drunk when they arrived for the $2m live music extravaganza at the Gold Coast 600.

That was the message from senior police as operations for the event were released. Police vowed to raid units of partygoers who started live sex shows on balconies during the three-day motorsports carnival.

Gold Coast district superintendent Jim Keogh said he did not want to be the “fun police”, but admitted there would be tight tolerance with officers now forced to patrol the Surfers Paradise precinct, the racetrack and the Broadwater concert area where supergroup The Beach Boys were headlining.

There was speculation police will also use sniffer dogs at the parties in the push for a clean event. Supt Keogh warned revellers not to run their race too early.

‘‘If they’re going to attend the race day and then go to the concerts at night, there is no point turning up to the concerts intoxicated, you will be turned away,’’ he said. ‘‘Some people will attend the races and start drinking earlier and then form the intentions of going to the concerts. If they turn up intoxicated it will all be in vain.’’ It was understood police feared the potential for brawls with “double sessions” of a race day followed by an evening concert. Police faced the toughest task in years with potentially three precincts to patrol during the evenings, with organisers attempting to broaden its appeal.