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Posted: 2017-08-20 23:16:15

Updated August 21, 2017 14:18:03

Hobart Lord Mayor Sue Hickey has proposed security bollards for some of Hobart's most popular attractions, such as the Salamanca Market.

Alderman Hickey said the pop-up bollards could be situated wherever there are major gatherings and room for a vehicle run-up.

Terrorists have used vehicles to cause mass damage and casualties overseas in Barcelona, London, Berlin and Nice in the past two years.

Logical events to protect in Hobart would be the Salamanca Market in Salamanca Place, the Farm Gate Market in Bathurst Street and major annual events, such as the Taste of Tasmania.

Alderman Hickey told ABC Radio Hobart the safety of the public was a constant matter on the council's radar.

She urged people not to assume they were safe just because they lived in Tasmania.

"I don't think we should ever think we're immune just because we live in Tasmania and it's such a safe and lovely place," she said.

"That said, we don't want anyone alarmed.

"We are taking care of it, and we also have things like CCTV footage and constant police patrols around the city."

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin told Radio National that besides bollards protection could achieved with plant boxes and fixed seating.

"There is no one thing that is going to make Australians completely safe," he said.

"I don't wake up at night worrying about this, because I'm confident we're doing everything that we can, and this strategy that we've released yesterday is just another step in that."

Commissioner Colvin also encouraged people to report suspicious activity.

Trade-off between access and safety

Alderman Hickey said there had been a "quite heated" discussion in recent years about tightening vehicle access to the Salamanca Market, a move resisted by traders who relied on having their vehicles alongside their stalls.

"They believe they are very trustworthy and honest but you just don't know when someone will do the wrong thing," Alderman Hickey said.

The move comes off the back of a report released by the Federal Government yesterday, which detailed a guide to prevent terrorist attacks in Australia's cities.

Tasmania Police were involved in the consultation process for the report, which recommended physical obstacles like bollards, as well as CCTV and X-Ray screening.

The Tasmanian Government, which has primary responsibility for preventing and preparing for potential attacks, said in a statement it was continuing to work with other authorities to ensure safety.

Ms Hickey said the Hobart City Council would continue to consult with Tasmania Police about security in the city.

Topics: terrorism, events, local-government, government-and-politics, hobart-7000, tas

First posted August 21, 2017 09:16:15

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