New Fence At Mcg As Terror Fears Prompt Security Upgrade

[John]

New Fence at MCG as terror fears prompt security upgrade
December 17, 2015 10:09am
PETER ROLFE sports affairs Herald Sun

Construction has begun outside the MCG with the upgrade scheduled to be in place for the Boxing Day Test in light of heightened terror fears. Pictures: Tim Carrafa


EVERY sports fan entering the MCG this summer will searched by a metal detector and forced to pass through a new security fence under a major security upgrade.

All cars entering the MCG carpark will be searched, parking in Yarra Park will be reduced by about 500 spaces and moved further away from the stadium in response to terror fears.

And traffic in nearby Brunton Avenue will be shut down two and a half hours before matches in a bid to make the venue safer for patrons enjoying the summer of cricket.

A 1.8m fence will be built around the MCG, 25m back from entry gates, to screen people entering the stadium and better safeguard Victorians from attacks.

Construction has begun outside the ground with the upgrade scheduled to be in place for the Sunday’s Big Bash League match at the ground between Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder as well as the Boxing Day Test.

Crowds line up to go through security before entering the ground for a Essendon v Carlton game in 2005.
The security upgrade comes in light of heightened terror fears following the recent attacks in Paris particularly at Stade de France.

If a success, the changes are likely to be rolled out for the next AFL season.

They may also apply at other sporting grounds in Victoria.

In a statement released this morning, MCC CEO Stephen Gough said the move was precautionary and insisted there had been no direct threat to the stadium itself.


“While the advice remains that there is no localised threat to the MCG, we have taken the opportunity to add an extra layer of security and comfort for our patrons.

“We recognise that the more stringent entry procedure will mean it takes a little longer for patrons to enter the stadium.

“We ask for patience and understanding during that time, and encourage people to plan their journey to arrive earlier than normal to ensure they don’t miss the first ball or a moment of the action.”


Sean Carroll, Cricket Australia’s head of security, said: “The safety and security of fans, players and officials at any of our events is our number one priority.

“We are therefore very supportive of the MCC’s proactive security arrangements this summer.”

Metal structures and large concrete blocks were delivered to the ground yesterday.

Security was increased in and outside the ground this year for Australia’s Cricket World Cup triumph.

Construction has begun on the fence. Picture: 3AW

Patrols were also increased for last year’s Boxing Day Test with security guards randomly checking patrons with metal detector wands and searching cars entering the underground car park.

Sports fans have been urged to arrive at matches early this summer and expect queues on entry as they undergo bag searches.

The Herald Sun revealed pedestrians would be given right of way over cars leaving the MCG in a trial to begin this weekend.

If successful, the new approach will see cars kept at the ground an extra 20 minutes after matches so pedestrian traffic can be cleared sooner.

peter.rolfe@news.com.auo

 

[Matt F]

MCG security fence to be scrapped for AFL season
Date: March 18, 2016 - 4:51PM
by Roger Vaughan

Patrons have their bags searched and scanned with a metal detector outside the MCG last year. Photo: Mathew Lynn

The so-called "ring of steel" that encircled the MCG this summer will be scrapped for the footy season, but thorough security checks will still be conducted before fans go through the turnstiles.

Fans are warned to arrive earlier for big matches at the MCG to allow for added the security measures.

While the MCG has abandoned cricket's cyclone fence, the ground will continue to have beefed-up security.

All bags will be searched, as will any vehicles entering the underground car park. Security staff will also be able to use electronic wands to check fans for metal objects.

Melbourne Cricket Club chief executive Stephen Gough said fans needed to allow more time, especially for blockbuster matches, after the MCC came under heavy criticism when fans were kept waiting outside the ground for a Big Bash League match in January as they made their way through the security fence.

"If you take a game like Geelong and Hawthorn on Easter Monday, if 50,000 people arrive in the last half hour - whether we're doing this or not - there will always be a section of delay getting in," Gough said.

"It's a hard one to answer, because if you're arriving five minutes before the bounce, you're probably leaving yourself in dangerous territory.

"I'd always say, particularly for the big games ... give yourself a good 10-15 minutes earlier than normal to make sure you do get in."The MCG and AFL looked at using the temporary cyclone fence that was trialled around the outside of the ground for major cricket fences during this summer.But Gough said the AFL would attract bigger crowds than cricket matches.

"Their arrival patterns are vastly different - large crowds descending on the place in very short time before game time," he said."We had some concerns about the robustness of the fence.

"We have some issues about if there was an emergency, have we got enough emergency gates to deal with the fence for crowds in excess of that 70 - the 80,000, even 90,000?"

Victorian police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane said they were comfortable with what had come out of the security review. There will be more police and security staff outside the ground.

The fence was introduced during the cricket season after the Stade de France was targeted during the Paris terror attacks.

Leane said there was currently no direct terrorist threat against any AFL venue.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan also backed the revised security measures."We have great confidence in where we've landed ... we're ready to go," he said.

"It's the right outcome for our supporters, with all priorities taken into account."

McLachlan also said the AFL had reviewed security in the wake of last season.There were several ugly incidents at last year's Fremantle-Hawthorn preliminary final at Subiaco. He said the AFL would now have an official liaising with security in the venue control centre at every game.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-ne...afl-season-20160318-gnlxwn.html#ixzz43FNPhKm1

 

[166news]

Security fence could be built around entire Melbourne sports precinct

PETER ROLFE, CITY EDITOR, Herald Sun

November 16, 2016 4:35pm

A SECURITY fence may one day be built around the entire Melbourne sports precinct in a bid to combat terrorism.

The MCG plus Rod Laver, Margaret Court and Hisense arenas, and AAMI Park could be surrounded by a perimeter barrier if threat levels against sports fans escalate in the future.

A fence around the MCG was trialled at cricket matches last year but dumped before the AFL season after failing to live up to police and security expectations.

But if terror risks increase, MCC chief Stephen Gough said a barrier might one day be built around our iconic sports venues in a bid to keep the community safe.

He said the “ring of steel’’ trialled at Test and Big Bash matches last year and a similar structure built for the 2006 Commonwealth Games could envelope the entire precinct.

“It could be easy to construct that way if the security levels demanded such a solution’’ he said.

“Let’s hope that it stays or gets better than where it is now so we can go back to a more normal existence.

“But you have to be ready.’’

The MCG was previously protected by a fence last year. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Security could become a bigger issue around the city’s sporting precinct. Picture: Mark Stewart

Big queues outside the MCG last year amid heightened security.

Australia’s most iconic stadium beefed up security following last year’s Paris terror attacks, which included three suicide bombers trying to wreak havoc at a soccer match at the Stade de France.

Mr Gough said the two- week Australian Open, AFL Grand Final and Boxing Day Test “would be a pretty big target’’ for terrorists and ``security issues’’ had to be taken seriously.

“Given the climate, what would be those measures you would have to look at to ensure that you are adequately dealing with a terror threat?’’ he said. “I don’t know what the threat level will be in 25 years — better or worse.

“But if it’s worse, what are those steps? Maybe it could be sealing off the whole of Yarra Park so that on a game day, it can be totally sealed.’’

Mr Gough said such a wall would be “very hard to do’’, considering the combination of parkland, traffic and public transport in the precinct.

“But they’re the sorts of things ... you would have to look at as part of your whole procedure,’’ he said.

peter.rolfe@news.com.au