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Lessons Learned and Crowds Controlled at Sydney’s Vivid Festival


The ‘stampede’ on the night occurred after a large number of weekend visitors flocked to the event.

Precautionary measures have been implemented at Sydney’s Vivid light festival to prevent a recurrence of the bottlenecks that trapped thousands of attendees in fear of a stampede or crush.

Additional police presence was requested after a significant crowd gathered in the harbor area to witness an eagerly awaited drone display near Circular Quay on Saturday evening.

The “stampede” ensued as a result of the influx of crowds over the long weekend.

NSW Premier Chris Minns mentioned that authorities were caught off guard by the size of the crowd that night.

Event organizers and NSW Police acted swiftly to rectify the situation and conducted a thorough inspection to ensure the safety of spectators for the remainder of the community event.

“I am thankful that we were able to learn from the previous night’s mistakes, but I want families to be able to enjoy Sydney,” Mr. Minns said during a press briefing on June 10.

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“I understand that times are tough right now and this is an opportunity for families to spend quality time together without spending money.

“We want to ensure a safe and enjoyable night out for all.”

Several streets have been closed and crowd barricades have been repositioned around the various attractions.

Trains, buses, and ferries were redirected on the night of June 9 as organizers took steps to prevent the congestion around transportation hubs.

Concerns about overcrowding led organizers to issue a warning on X, previously known as Twitter, around 8:30pm on June 9, advising people to steer clear of Circular Quay and The Rocks.

Following the drone display on Saturday, a user on X reported a dangerous crush near the Overseas Passenger Terminal.

AAP reporter Scott Bailey described the scene as resembling cattle being squeezed together with a lack of security or event personnel visible.

“There was a sense of an imminent stampede for about 20 minutes near the bottom of the Rocks and again at Wynyard. There were many children present,” Mr. Bailey stated on X.

Vivid Sydney is organized, managed, and produced by the NSW government’s tourism and major events agency.

It is an annual showcase of innovation and technology that illuminates Sydney for 23 nights during the winter season.

The festival is currently in its 14th year.



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