Tag: Vantage Points

Accessibility Initiatives Mean Everyone Can Be Inspired This Sydney New Year’s Eve

A range of City Of Sydney accessibility initiatives will make this year’s New Year’s Eve celebrations safer and more inclusive for all.

This year’s event will feature a live audio description broadcast, designated accessible viewing areas and projections of giant hands spelling out Auslan messages on the Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylons.

A dedicated page on the official Sydney New Year’s Eve 2014 – ‘Inspire‘ website will provide accessible transport information and an interactive vantage point map highlighting accessible facilities around the Sydney Harbour foreshore.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City was committed to ensuring everyone can take part in Australia’s largest public event.

“Sydney New Year’s Eve is an event for everyone, so we want to make sure the many Sydneysiders and visitors living with a disability have a safe and enjoyable night,” the Lord Mayor said.

“Our accessible route maps and designated accessible viewing areas will make getting to the event easier, so audiences can focus on relaxing with family and friends and welcoming in the New Year.”

A live audio description will be broadcast on radio station 2RPH from 7:45pm on 1224AM, 100.5FM, 2RPH digital and online at 2rph.org.au.

Professional audio describers Emma Bedford and Daryl Colquhoun will bring the full Sydney New Year’s Eve 2014 – ‘Inspire‘ program to life, including the 9PM Family Fireworks, Harbour Of Light Parade and Midnight Fireworks display.

There will be designated accessible viewing areas at the Sydney Opera House, Mrs Macquarie’s Point, the Cahill Expressway & Pirrama Park and Ballarat Park in Pyrmont.

People interested in visiting these areas should check the Sydney New Year’s Eve website for more details.

The website also features maps showing the most accessible routes to some vantage points, accessible public toilets, information booths, transport hubs and other points of interest.

Throughout the night, welcome messages will be projected onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylons in Auslan, the sign language of Australia’s deaf community, as well as the languages of Sydney’s 16 top migrant populations and tourist nationalities.

And for those staying at home, live closed captions will be available for the ABC’s TV broadcast of the celebrations and Telstra’s YouTube Show, while the soundtracks of the 9PM Family Fireworks and Midnight Fireworks displays will be simulcast on 104.1 2DayFM.

For more information, visit sydneynewyearseve.com.

Sydney New Year’s Eve 2014 – ‘Inspire’ acknowledges the support of Leadership Partner – Telstra, Charity Partner – Engineers Without Borders Australia, & NSW Government agencies and landholders including the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority and the Sydney Opera House Trust.

Sydneysiders Urged To Make A Plan For New Year’s Eve

Police are urging the community to plan ahead and have a number of options for celebrating New Year’s Eve in Sydney.

With more than 1.5 million people expected to ring in 2015 around Sydney Harbour, Police are urging family and friends to start discussing their plans for the night to avoid disappointment.

Central Metropolitan Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Mick Fuller, said Police have been working closely with the City Of Sydney, landowners and other government agencies to ensure the Sydney New Year’s Eve 2014 – ‘Inspire‘ celebrations are safe and fun for everyone.

“New Year’s Eve is Sydney’s largest event and the safety of the community is always our number 1 priority,” Assistant Commissioner Fuller said.

“Police and other agencies will work side-by-side in the Police Operations Centre and Government Coordination Centre to coordinate our people and resources on the ground.”

“There will be large numbers of Police – both in uniform and plain clothes – patrolling the streets of the CBD and foreshore areas of Sydney providing a highly visible and mobile Policing response.”

“As part of the City Of Sydney’s ongoing commitment to making NYE family-friendly, there are extensive alcohol-free zones in place, which will be enforced.”

“In addition, Police and security will be closely monitoring crowd numbers and sites will be closed as soon as they reach capacity to prevent overcrowding.”

“Anyone planning to watch the fireworks should start their planning at the Sydney New Year’s Eve website, where they will find detailed vantage point information and important hints and tips for the night,” Assistant Commissioner Fuller said.

For comprehensive event details, visit: www.sydneynewyearseve.com.

“Once you have made a plan for the night, we suggest you come up with at least 1 back-up plan, just in case your preferred location is full when you arrive,” Assistant Commissioner Fuller said.

“In previous years, we have seen many sites reach capacity and close early, so we are urging people to arrive early, just in case you have to make your way to a back-up viewing location.”

Police are expecting significant traffic disruptions due to road closures which will be in place throughout New Year’s Eve and into New Year’s Day.

“In order to facilitate large crowds and the magnificent fireworks displays, there will be a number of major road closures and special event clearways,” Assistant Commissioner Fuller said.

“We strongly urge revellers to leave the car at home, but for those who must drive, please be patient as we anticipate lengthy delays, particularly at the end of the fireworks displays.”

“There will be additional bus and train services running to help get people around, so the best option, as always, is public transport.” Assistant Commissioner Fuller said.

Special event timetables and route changing advice for New Year’s Eve is available at: www.transportnsw.info.