ITEM CoS04 REPORTS 20/02/17 N O R T H S Y D N E Y C O U N C I L R E P O R T S Report to General Manager Attachments: Nil SUBJECT: Events Update - New Year’s Eve, Australia Day and Upcoming 2017 Events AUTHOR: Justin Sheining, Acting Manager Communications and Events ENDORSED BY: Sandra Moore, Acting Director Corporate Services EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This report provides a review of New Year’s Eve 2016/17, Australia Day events in North Sydney and details of upcoming events including the NTH SYD Rooftop Fiesta and the return of our dogs’ day out - Bradfield Bark. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Nil Local Government Act 1993: Section 23A Guidelines - Council Decision Making During Merger Proposal Period The Guidelines have been considered in the preparation of this report and are not applicable. RECOMMENDATION: 1. THAT Council receive the report.
Transcript
ITEM CoS04 REPORTS 20/02/17
N O R T H S Y D N E Y C O U N C I L R E P O R T S
Report to General Manager Attachments:
Nil SUBJECT: Events Update - New Year’s Eve, Australia Day and Upcoming 2017 Events AUTHOR: Justin Sheining, Acting Manager Communications and Events ENDORSED BY: Sandra Moore, Acting Director Corporate Services EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This report provides a review of New Year’s Eve 2016/17, Australia Day events in North Sydney and details of upcoming events including the NTH SYD Rooftop Fiesta and the return of our dogs’ day out - Bradfield Bark. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Nil Local Government Act 1993: Section 23A Guidelines - Council Decision Making During Merger Proposal Period The Guidelines have been considered in the preparation of this report and are not applicable. RECOMMENDATION: 1. THAT Council receive the report.
Report of Justin Sheining, Acting Manager Communications and Events Re: Events Update - New Year’s Eve, Australia Day and Upcoming 2017 Events
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LINK TO DELIVERY PROGRAM The relationship with the Delivery Program is as follows: Direction: 2. Our Built environment 3. Our Economic Vitality 4. Our Social Vitality Goal: 2.5 Sustainable Transport is encouraged 3.3 North Sydney is a place that attracts events 4.2 Community is diverse 4.3 Enhanced arts and cultural programs and facilities 4.9 Enhanced Community safety and accessibility BACKGROUND New Year’s Eve 2016/17 New Year’s Eve was successfully delivered with large crowds visiting foreshores across North Sydney. A number of changes were implemented by Council following stakeholder and community consultation from June 2016. The changes were effective in improving crowd management, access and security. No major incidents were reported. Stakeholder and community feedback has been generally positive with some improvements to be made for 2017/18. Australia Day in North Sydney A number of events were held in North Sydney on Australia Day including Council’s inaugural BBQ by the Bridge at Bradfield Park, Milsons Point, North Sydney Olympic Pool’s Family Fun Day, the Celtic Festival in St Leonards Park and the Highlands Dancers in Civic Park, North Sydney. All events were well attended and feedback from community and stakeholders has been positive. NTH SYD Rooftop Fiesta – Thursday 30 and Friday 31 March 2017 Producing an annual festival is part of the event strategy for the “Happiness Works Here” NTH SYD program. For the past two years, daytime street festivals have been held to coincide with the International Day of Happiness. The festivals utilised available public and private spaces in the North Sydney CBD. Due to a number of public works, including the upgrade of Brett Whiteley Place, there are limited spaces available to hold the festival during the day. Greenwood Plaza has been an advocate for the campaign since the beginning and has offered to partner Council with an event utilising its rooftop. Bradfield Bark – Sunday 28 May 2017 On 14 September 2015 Council resolved: 1. THAT Council’s events section organise a North Sydney Dog Show, the inaugural event to be held on a Sunday in March 2016 and if deemed a success, annually thereafter. The event to
Report of Justin Sheining, Acting Manager Communications and Events Re: Events Update - New Year’s Eve, Australia Day and Upcoming 2017 Events
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be held in Bradfield Park and free to the public. On Sunday 6 March 2016 Council held the inaugural free event “Bradfield Bark” which featured a program for dog owners, lovers and park visitors to enjoy. The event will return in 2017 at a cooler time of year in May. CONSULTATION REQUIREMENTS Community engagement is not required. SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT The following table provides a summary of the key sustainability implications: Environment • Showcases parks and reserves. Grounds are prepared to manage impact
of crowds and waste clean-up is undertaken promptly • Traffic and transport plans are prepared to encourage the use of public
transport and manage the flow of traffic Social • The events create social connection, promote cultural diversity, are
inclusive and accessible to all members of the community Economic • Events provide a significant stimulus to the tourism sector in Sydney
and provides economic benefit to accommodation, retail and food outlets in the North Sydney LGA
Governance • Encourages partnership with the Department of Premier and Cabinet, City of Sydney, Harbourside Police and other State agencies
DETAIL New Year’s Eve 2016/17 New Year’s Eve (NYE) fell on a Saturday in 2016 and was very busy with large crowds visiting foreshore areas to access prime vantage points. Managed Access Areas including Blues Point Reserve, Bradfield Park and Mary Booth Reserve were full as anticipated. Cremorne Point, Kurraba Point, Balls Head, Waverton, Lavender Bay and St Leonards Park also received large crowds. A large proportion of the crowd at Blues Point Reserve and Bradfield Park were from interstate and overseas. There were significant numbers of tourists from China, Japan, Europe and India. A number of changes were introduced including earlier Managed Access start times, closure and clearing of Mary Booth Reserve on 30 December, implementation of dedicated pedestrian access to McMahons Point and improved access for North Sydney Olympic Pool guests. These changes proved effective in managing crowd numbers, and improving resident access and security checks. The changes were originally proposed in June 2016 and implemented following consultation with the community and stakeholders. It is proposed they remain for future years.
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Managed Access Start Times While NYE has traditionally been managed for alcohol-related behaviour, there is now increased emphasis being placed on crowd management, hence the request from NSW Police for the earlier start time being implemented at 8am. This year bag checks were tightened at both managed access areas of Bradfield Park and Blues Point including additional security presence and fencing for the first time at Quibaree Park. Police conducted bag checks for alcohol and glass for those already in the parks when managed access commenced and had a sniffer dog for bomb detection. Crowd counters estimated that when managed access began at 8am there were already 2900 people at Blues Point, 1250 at Bradfield Park. Approximately 300 people were queued to enter Mary Booth Reserve at its opening with queuing commencing at 6.30am. Blues Point Reserve Blues Point Reserve reached capacity of 15,000 at 6pm. Approximately 500 people left after the 9pm fireworks and a further 500 were permitted entry. Residents and their guests were permitted entry into the managed access area after the gates are closed via a separate pedestrian entry. This separate entry made it easier for residents and their guests to access their properties and allowed for more accurate management of crowd numbers. Bradfield Park The advertised capacity of Bradfield Park was reduced to 40,000 following an independent report. The capacity of Bradfield Park continues to be a difficult issue to quantify as the crowds condense significantly around Olympic Drive and various sections of the park have obstructed views. The park was closed by Police at 9pm and reopened at approx. 9.20pm. Approximately 5000 people left after the 9pm fireworks and the park was re-opened by Police, closing again at approx. 11.30pm. Additional toilets (and changes to placement location and additional vending increased the amount of space available for queuing in the park. It is recommended that the advertised capacity of the park is reduced to 35,000 for 2017. Mary Booth Reserve Mary Booth Reserve was closed at 8pm on 30 December by security guards, with support from Harbourside Local Area Command. In addition to officers, a mobile Police Station was in-situ near Jeffrey Street Wharf at Olympic Drive. In previous years, Council has received complaints from residents overlooking Mary Booth Reserve. This year there were none. Crowd behaviour and congestion was improved as a result of the closure. First Aid St John Ambulance was engaged as the first aid supplier. There were no major injuries/issues reported with headache/ migraine being the most common presentation. In total 40 people were treated in Bradfield Park and 43 were treated at Blues Point Reserve. Camping Most people accepted that camping was banned in our parks and foreshore reserves in the lead up to NYE. Rangers and Police assisted in moving campers on up until 30 December 2016. A
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large majority of visitors arrived on 31 December without having to camp overnight or even several days in advance as in the past. Both Channel 7 and 9 News ran stories on camping at Blues Point Reserve, which resulted in the reinforcement of the no camping message. While the majority of campers traditionally gravitate to Blues Point Reserve, campers also go to Balls Head and Mary Booth Reserve. Due to the closure of Mary Booth Reserve on 30 December 2016, prospective campers were moved or prevented from accessing this area until 8am 31 December 2016. Toilets A urinal compound was installed at both Bradfield Park and Blues Point Reserve. Twenty additional single unit toilets were added to Bradfield Park and five extra to Blues Point Reserve. Locations of single unit toilets were altered to improve queuing and wait times. St Leonards Park had single toilets added for the first time. Despite these improvements, queuing times for toilets, particularly in the lead up the fireworks displays, continues to be problematic and the events team is reviewing and trialing toilet arrangements as an ongoing project. Traffic & Transport Management Minimal changes were made to the 2016 Traffic Management Plan. Additional water-filled barriers were supplied by the Transport Management Centre and these were installed at locations determined by NSW Police. Council continues to work with all agencies involved in management of traffic and transport to make necessary improvements each year. Vendors New vendors were introduced to Blues Point Reserve, Bradfield Park and Cremorne Point which proved hugely popular, providing a greater variety of food and coffee. Improved vending reduced the need for attendees to leave the managed access area, resulting in fewer people being ‘locked out” when Police closed the venue. Exiting after Midnight This year the Police trialled a new exit strategy which pushed more people to North Sydney Station and reduced the load on Milsons Point Station. While this was considered to be generally effective, we did receive some feedback that it created a delay. This strategy will be reviewed with Police. Delays are always to expected when more than 80,000 people are exiting an area at one time. Next year, communications materials to residents will reinforce the need to explain to their guests that there will be delays leaving after midnight. Community Consultation and Feedback A more targeted approach was taken to community consultation with the creation of four separate brochures containing information relevant to each area. 12,500 brochures were distributed as below:
Report of Justin Sheining, Acting Manager Communications and Events Re: Events Update - New Year’s Eve, Australia Day and Upcoming 2017 Events
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• Kirribilli, Milsons Point and Lavender Bay (4,300) • McMahons Point, Lavender Bay and North Sydney (4,700) • Cremorne Point, Neutral Bay and Kurraba Point (2,700) • Wollstonecraft and Waverton (800) There were four compliments and 11 complaints received after the event. The complaints related to crowd management (2), capacity (1), resident access (2), campers (1), toilets, including defecation on private property (2), placement of infrastructure (1), damage to public grounds or gardens (2). Suggestions for the future included ticketing for residents and improved crowd management particularly during egress. Lavender Bay Precinct Meeting Minutes from Thursday 2 February stating they were “largely satisfied with the management of the proceedings”. A resident from Blues Point also wrote: “I want to record our thanks to all those involved in preparing and executing this year's NYE plans. From a resident's perspective it was respectful, seamless and well co-ordinated. Thank you, and thanks to all involved. Happy New Year.” Australia Day in North Sydney Council held the inaugural BBQ by the Bridge event at Bradfield Park, Milsons Point on Thursday 26 January 2017 from 10am – 4pm. The event celebrated Australia’s diversity through the grand tradition of the Aussie BBQ with a range of food stalls serving up barbecued cuisines from around the world. Live music and children’s entertainment including a circus playground, Australian Wildlife displays, jumping castle and face painting were very popular. For a first time event, it was very well attended with an estimated 15,000 people enjoying the day’s festivities which were complemented by the Australia Day Council’s Harbour Program. The Harbour Program features a number of activities including a Ferry Race, Harbour Parade, aerial activities, floating concert and ‘Salute to Australia’. Cremorne Point and Blues Point were also popular vantage points to watch the Harbour activities. Other events included the North Sydney Olympic Pool Family Fun Day, Celtic Festival and the Highlands Dancers competition.
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Above: crowds enjoying the Salsa Kingz performance at BBQ by the Bridge
Above: Crowds enjoying the Harbour program
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Above: Family enjoying BBQ by the Bridge, Australian Wildlife Displays and some of the delicious
barbecued food on offer
Above: A positive comment posted on the BBQ by the Bridge Facebook page
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Other events on Australia Day in North Sydney included the Celtic festival in St Leonards Park which received an audience of around 500, the Highlands Dancers in Civic Park with around 200 attendees and the Olympic Pool Family Fun Day saw over 1000. NTH SYD Rooftop Fiesta – Thursday 30 and Friday 31 March 2017 The NTH SYD program traditionally holds an annual street festival, however due to the ongoing CBD works, including the upgrade of Brett Whiteley Place, there are no ideal public spaces to hold the event. Greenwood Plaza has been an ongoing supporter of Council, allowing regular use of its rooftop for activations such as live music, yoga and giveaways. Greenwood Plaza, and the Greenwood Hotel are partnering with Council to deliver the annual NTH SYD festival, providing a range of in-kind support including the venue and extensive marketing of the event. The festival will be held over two nights on Thursday 30 and Friday 31 March, from 4pm to 10pm, in a similar manner to the Backstreet Block Party event in 2016. Bradfield Bark – Sunday 28 May 2017 The event is returning for a second year and will provide a variety of activities and entertainment including dog demonstrations, live music, dog products and services in the “Mutt Market”, food stalls, competitions, children’s activities and a special off-leash area for dogs to roam free.
