Concerns Sydney Opera House is vulnerable to attack
Security measures around the Sydney Opera House must be urgently reviewed in order to prevent the possibility of a London-style terror attack, it has been warned.
It comes after several vehicles drove through the harbourside promenade towards the city's most recognisable landmark recently.
The eastern promenade, between Circular Quay station and the Opera House, has several unsecured areas sparking concerns the area is vulnerable to the possibility of vehicles as large as a truck driving into crowds of pedestrians, according to The Australian.
But it's unclear who is ultimately in charge of the precinct, and when agencies including the City of Sydney, Sydney Opera House Trust, Property NSW and NSW Police were approached, most were unable to clarify the matter, the paper reports.
Security measures around the Sydney Opera House must be urgently reviewed in order to prevent the possibility of a London-style terror attack, it has been warned
Patricia Forsythe, the Sydney Business Chamber executive director, said the area has been affected by a 'lack of co-ordination' for some time.
She said the agencies work together to secure the area for large events such as New Year's Eve but year-round security needed to be reviewed.
'We are probably overdue for a review of these agencies,' she told The Australian.
'While they work together in the area of security for large events such as New Year's Eve and Vivid, the question I'm hearing from business ­people is: 'What about the rest of the year?'
Her call was echoed by residents and workers in the area who said they've seen three vehicles driving onto the busy pedestrian strip in recent weeks.
It comes after several vehicles drove through the harbourside promenade towards the city's most recognisable landmark recently
The concern is the area could become a target for a terror attack, like recent ones in London, Nice and Stockholm where heavy vehicles were used as weapons to mow down people in the street.
A resident of Bennelong Apartments, home to some of the city's most affluent professionals, said he was walking along the promenade last week when a white van drove up behind him.
Patricia Forsythe, the Sydney Business Chamber executive director, said the area has been affected by a 'lack of co-ordination'
'All of a sudden, there's a van coming behind us and there were people everywhere,' he said.
'They drove the entire length of the promenade – it was scary.'
The vehicle – an unmarked Fort Transit van – reportedly drove between metal bollards and along the promenade last Thursday afternoon.
But Property NSW told the Australian that the van had a clearance to be on the promenade.
However, an ice cream van also breached the turning circle by the Opera House at Macquarie Street and parked on the promenade to sell to punters for five hours on Thursday.
Both the Opera House and Property NSW said the area did not fall under its jurisdiction.
The resident added that the area is a 'real target' and security measures need to be taken seriously.
Security experts have backed up the sentiment, saying the area – which attracts more than 8.2 million visitors a year – needs to make safety measures more stringent.