Newcastle City Council is planning to implement barriers and bollards around open spaces in the city to remove any potential terrorist threats.
It comes as the Turnbull government unveiled its anti terror strategy to be introduced around cities across the country.
It also comes in light of the recent Barcelona attacks with a man using a vehicle as a weapon.
Newcastle Council Interim Chief Executive, Jeremy Bath, says the focus is certainly on open spaces including CBD's.
"Councillors will be focusing on open spaces, in particular, the CBD areas so it could be Hamilton, Newcastle and Wallsend, frankly anywhere where large amounts of people are gathering in open spaces is where the council will be putting its focus on." Bath said.
The plan hopes to implement trees, statues, stairs and bollards to promote safety and remove any potential threat of attack especially those using vehicles as weapons as seen in London and Barcelona recently.
"It's about coming up with measures to prevent vehicles from becoming weapons in open public spaces, for example, putting in concrete blocks, statues or tree planter boxes with really inventive ways of using them so that they are aesthetically pleasing."
"I can give people assurances now that our focus is about ensuring public safety while not interfering with people's day to day lives, so its really important that we come up with creative solutions that protect public safety but still encourage people to get out and really enjoy this great city we call, Newcastle." Bath stated.
The council has already ordered 16 vehicle entrapment barricades and more to come to blend in with the urban landscape.
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| Source: Herald Sun |
