Lithgow Halloween 2017 is set to see thousands of people filling Main Street and event organisers are working hard to ensure the safety of revelers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Festival security has become a hot topic after Blue Mountains police imposed tougher anti-terrorism measures last year.
Blue Mountains council stepped in to help the area’s eight major festivals in 2016, supplying water barriers and staff to the tune of about $50,000.
However this year festival organisers have been told they will need to meet any additional costs out of their own pocket possibly forcing some events to fold.
The increased security measures also led to ANZAC Day marches being temporarily cancelled earlier this year before council and the state government stepped in to ensure the marches went ahead.
Lithgow City Council director of economic development and environment Andrew Muir said Lithgow Halloween organisers had been in communication with local police and had not been notified of any stricter security demands.
A specialist event and traffic management firm are currently preparing the risk assessment for Halloween.
Mr Muir said event organisers would beef up security if recommended by the risk assessment recommended.
“There’s been some announcements recently by the federal government about planning for events in public spaces, certainly in this day in age it has to be a consideration,” Mr Muir said.
“It’s a public safety issue and everyone wants to have a safe event.”