‘More lasers than Star Wars’: Lord mayor heralds New Year’s Eve celebration like no other

Carbines reminded revellers that 234 security cameras would be operating around the CBD along with scores of police, public security officers and paramedics.

Police have promised a swift response to any troublemakers, especially those carrying weapons, with designated areas set up in the city centre as well as the St Kilda foreshore and Geelong CBD where officers can search people for weapons.

Superintendent Troy Papworth said thousands of police and protective service officers would be working on the night to keep those in the city, suburbs and at train stations safe.

“From the roads to railway stations, foreshores to key regional areas, there will be an around-the-clock, highly visible police presence right across the state,” he said.

“We will have a particular focus on the city, to ensure the hundreds of thousands of people coming in to see the fireworks display are safe.

“We’ve seen overwhelmingly positive behaviour at New Year’s Eve celebrations in recent years, with only a small number of people choosing to do the wrong thing. Rest assured, anyone heading out to cause trouble can expect a swift response from police.”

Police said there were more than 60 illegal fireworks incidents during the last New Year’s Eve, with offenders facing up to five years in jail and thousands of dollars in fines.

The tragic death of a 19-year-old Whittlesea man on Christmas Day after a fireworks explosion in Kalkallo has offered a reminder of the danger of fireworks, while firefighters have also reminded Victorians that with much of the state tinder-dry, fireworks could ignite fires and cause significant damage.

“It, unfortunately, is a tragic reminder of what could go wrong,” Fire Rescue Victoria deputy commissioner Joshua Fischer said.

“It’s extremely dry, so if these fireworks occur in areas where there’s grassland or dry bushland, we’re likely to see fires ignite.

“They’re going to spread very, very quickly. Even under moderate or high fire danger, we’re going to see fires spreading in grasslands very, very quickly.”

Authorities have urged revellers to “leave the car at home” and use public transport as a number of road closures and detours will be enforced on roads around the CBD to ensure crowds can move around safely.

With AAP

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