500,000 to ring in New Year in Melbourne

About 600 police officers will patrol Melbourne’s CBD on New Year’s Eve to ensure festivities are not disrupted by anti-social behaviour.

Organisers expect 500,000 people to gather in the city for the New Year’s Eve celebrations, including a spectacular golden fireworks display.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Fontana said around 600 officers would hit the city’s streets, and a public order response team would be quickly dispatched to any trouble spots.

Operations would also be set up on both sides of the bay south of Melbourne, on the Surf Coast, Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island.

“We won’t tolerate anti-social behaviour or violent behaviour and we’ll be acting swiftly to ensure action is taken to remove any people from the streets who are causing problems,” Mr Fontana told reporters in Melbourne on Friday.

The Metropolitan Fire Brigade has also issued a warning to revellers, saying anyone caught setting off illegal fireworks could face jail.

Illegal fireworks also cause headaches for animal shelters, with more and more pets, especially dogs, fleeing family backyards in fright when fireworks are used.

Melbourne will ring in 2012 with a $2.6 million celebration that will bathe the city’s iconic buildings in golden light.

Almost 10 tonnes of fireworks will explode from 17 city locations, including the Arts Centre spire.

Free entertainment will be available at Yarra Park, Birrarung Marr and Alexandra Gardens with earlier fireworks at 9.30pm (AEDT) at Yarra Park and Docklands.

Free transport will run from 6pm until 5am (AEDT).

An extra 150 paramedics will be on duty across the state with an additional 16 ambulances in the CBD and St Kilda.

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