❓ Question regarding security at Perth Arena following public comments about potential terrorist attack. The Minister confirms security measures are in place and being reviewed, with recent upgrades completed.
AnsweredQoN 1554Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) I refer to comments made by the Member for Cowan on 26 May 2017
that Perth Arena is a "prime target for a terrorist attack" and ask: (a) Have you sought advice from VenuesWest about the security at Perth Arena; (b) Does VenuesWest share concerns about the Member's assessment of the Arena; (c) Has VenuesWest contacted WA Police to conduct counter-terrorism assessment of Perth Arena: (i) If yes - on what date did they request WA Police's assessment; and (d) Are there any upgrades being made to improve
security: (i) If yes, what are the works, costs
and on what date were they endorsed by VenuesWest? (2) Has the Member for Cowan written or emailed the Minister,
any Ministerial staff or VenuesWest about her concerns prior to making her
public comments about Perth Arena: (a) If yes, will the Minister table that correspondence?
that Perth Arena is a "prime target for a terrorist attack" and ask: (a) Have you sought advice from VenuesWest about the security at Perth Arena; (b) Does VenuesWest share concerns about the Member's assessment of the Arena; (c) Has VenuesWest contacted WA Police to conduct counter-terrorism assessment of Perth Arena: (i) If yes - on what date did they request WA Police's assessment; and (d) Are there any upgrades being made to improve
security: (i) If yes, what are the works, costs
and on what date were they endorsed by VenuesWest? (2) Has the Member for Cowan written or emailed the Minister,
any Ministerial staff or VenuesWest about her concerns prior to making her
public comments about Perth Arena: (a) If yes, will the Minister table that correspondence?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
8 August 2017
Responded by
Minister for Sport and Recreation
Response time
2 days
(1)
(a) Yes.
(b) No. Perth Arena is a world class facility and was designed to ensure the safe movement of patrons before, during and after events.
An average of five to seven exits are utilised at every event which disperses the crowd in different directions, crowd controllers are in place to ensure the safe and swift egress of patrons from the venue. The building is designed to intentionally slow people prior to regular exits, not in the case of emergency, so that the forecourts can disperse effectively.
VenuesWest has appointed a world best-practice operator AEG Ogden at the Perth Arena and the venue connects with agencies and all levels of government to ensure public safety. The operator receives instant intelligence and trends through its own network of global venues to ensure ongoing improvements are made. Improvements are made quickly and effectively in response to world events – most recently a more obvious example to members of the public would be the installation of anti-vehicle bollards last month as a precaution.
It is organisational policy not to share specific security initiatives for obvious reasons and therefore many actions are unseen by patrons.
(c) Yes.
(i) The VenuesWest CEO met with Superintendent Kim Massam on Wednesday 24 May 2017.
VenuesWest works cooperatively with the police and other authorities continuously. Management at each venue undertake a risk assessment for every event and work closely with the State’s Police Command, including any recommendations they make regarding security for a particular event. That includes the venue itself and the broader precinct.
Additionally, a cross-agency group is currently working together to improve traffic management and pedestrian flow at the venue.
(d) Yes.
(i) The installation of anti-vehicle bollards around the perimeter of the venue was completed in April 2017 at a cost of $215,500. (Entry A)
Further, the VenuesWest Board has recently instigated an external security review of current building infrastructure in conjunction with what other large venues are doing (nationally and globally) to address increased terror levels. The objective of this review is to understand how the capital infrastructure can be ‘hardened’ to mitigate the risk of terror and the extent of investment which is required to improve the security at existing venues (including Perth Arena).
The Minister for Sport and Recreation will be subsequently briefed on the findings of the infrastructure review and VenuesWest has foreshadowed the potential of a request for additional supplementary funding to address the necessary ‘hardening’ of assets to mitigate any security risks identified.
(2) No
(a) N/A
(a) Yes.
(b) No. Perth Arena is a world class facility and was designed to ensure the safe movement of patrons before, during and after events.
An average of five to seven exits are utilised at every event which disperses the crowd in different directions, crowd controllers are in place to ensure the safe and swift egress of patrons from the venue. The building is designed to intentionally slow people prior to regular exits, not in the case of emergency, so that the forecourts can disperse effectively.
VenuesWest has appointed a world best-practice operator AEG Ogden at the Perth Arena and the venue connects with agencies and all levels of government to ensure public safety. The operator receives instant intelligence and trends through its own network of global venues to ensure ongoing improvements are made. Improvements are made quickly and effectively in response to world events – most recently a more obvious example to members of the public would be the installation of anti-vehicle bollards last month as a precaution.
It is organisational policy not to share specific security initiatives for obvious reasons and therefore many actions are unseen by patrons.
(c) Yes.
(i) The VenuesWest CEO met with Superintendent Kim Massam on Wednesday 24 May 2017.
VenuesWest works cooperatively with the police and other authorities continuously. Management at each venue undertake a risk assessment for every event and work closely with the State’s Police Command, including any recommendations they make regarding security for a particular event. That includes the venue itself and the broader precinct.
Additionally, a cross-agency group is currently working together to improve traffic management and pedestrian flow at the venue.
(d) Yes.
(i) The installation of anti-vehicle bollards around the perimeter of the venue was completed in April 2017 at a cost of $215,500. (Entry A)
Further, the VenuesWest Board has recently instigated an external security review of current building infrastructure in conjunction with what other large venues are doing (nationally and globally) to address increased terror levels. The objective of this review is to understand how the capital infrastructure can be ‘hardened’ to mitigate the risk of terror and the extent of investment which is required to improve the security at existing venues (including Perth Arena).
The Minister for Sport and Recreation will be subsequently briefed on the findings of the infrastructure review and VenuesWest has foreshadowed the potential of a request for additional supplementary funding to address the necessary ‘hardening’ of assets to mitigate any security risks identified.
(2) No
(a) N/A
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