Latest news with #crowdmanagement
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Aussie council's $220k move after chaotic beach scenes anger locals
A city council has vowed to drastically ramp up efforts to contain crowds that flock to the beach to party on Christmas Day, after years of numbers swelling into the high thousands and numerous complaints from fed-up locals. Bronte Park, at Bronte Beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs, attracts several thousand revellers each year on Christmas Day, who flock to the popular seaside spot to celebrate in the sun. While the partygoers can hardly be blamed for wanting to enjoy such a pristine location, it's come at the ire of locals, who argue crowds become rowdy, leave behind mountains of rubbish, and prevent residents from enjoying their suburb. In recent years, locals said numbers had swollen to their "worst ever" rates, with 2025's event also renewing concerns. Bronte residents said they're sick of being forced to pitch in to clean up the filthy waste annually, including broken glass and even vomit, which is routinely left behind by the throng — largely made up of travellers. Now, after a string of complaints to Waverley Council, it has vowed to act. Speaking to Yahoo News, a council spokesman confirmed on Wednesday that it had decided on how best to manage revellers in 2025, following a meeting on Tuesday night. At the meeting, four proposals were put forward. Option 1 was to take no action, with no additional services provided. Option 2 proposed keeping the same crowd and waste management systems as in 2024. Option 3, which received the most community support, involved enhanced management, more cleaning, security, toilets, police presence, and a communications campaign to discourage attendance, costing around $220,000. Option 4 suggested fencing off the entire park and beach for a fully ticketed, alcohol-free event, but this was deemed costly (minimum $360,000) and logistically risky, potentially pushing unruly partygoers to other beaches. After significant community consultation, "councillors endorsed the recommendation outlined in the report — known as 'option 3'," the Waverley spokesperson said. This plan proposes a more robust and proactive strategy than what was implemented previously, with a strong emphasis on safety, cleanliness, and crowd control, without physically fencing the park or requiring ticketed entry. 🚮 Aussie councils warn crowds after 'disgusting' scenes 🧑🎄 'Disgusting' scenes as thousands hit famous Aussie beach for Christmas 🏝️ 'Worst ever': Outrage as iconic beach trashed At a minimum cost of $220,000 to Council (including staff time), the scheme will provide expanded service provision across key areas. These include: Increased cleaning and waste management to handle large volumes of rubbish. Improved toilet facilities to meet heightened demand. Enhanced security and a visible police presence to deter antisocial behaviour. New or strengthened alcohol bans or checkpoints to curb public drinking. A key feature of this option is a comprehensive public communications campaign to discourage attendance at Bronte on Christmas Day and to set clear expectations around acceptable behaviour. The plan also includes greater collaboration with rideshare operators, emergency services, and traffic control to manage congestion and safety risks in the surrounding area. Enforcement will be tightened, with council rangers empowered to issue fines for littering or misuse of public space. Although this option does not attempt to fully prevent visitation, it is designed to mitigate negative impacts while maintaining public access and avoiding the significant financial and logistical challenges of a full park enclosure. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Independent Singapore
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Independent Singapore
'No room to breathe' — Singaporeans voice claustrophobia amid rising density and rapid development
SINGAPORE: As the city-state's population crosses the 6 million mark in 2025, concerns over space, liveability, and mental well-being are increasingly being raised — not just in formal reports, but in everyday conversations online. A Reddit thread asking Singaporeans if they ever feel claustrophobic living in one of the world's most densely populated nations has struck a nerve. The third-densest country in the world Singapore now ranks as the third most densely populated country globally, trailing only Macau and Monaco and surpassing the likes of Hong Kong and Taiwan. With a land area of just 728 km² and a growing population of 6.04 million, the squeeze is being felt in both visible and invisible ways. The annualised population growth rate currently stands at 1.1%, up from 0.8% in the previous five-year period—a sign that pressures on infrastructure and space aren't letting up. Netizens share their coping mechanisms One Singaporean Redditor shared a detailed strategy for avoiding the crowds: 'I have ways to avoid the crowds as much as possible: Go to work early to avoid the rush hour (arrive by 7:40 a.m.) Leave early (around 5:00 p.m.) Early lunch (11:15 a.m.) Groceries delivered Don't leave the house during weekends.' For many, staying indoors is no longer a lifestyle preference — it's a survival tactic. However, not everyone is coping well. Another user reflected on how the city's crowds have affected their mental health: 'Weekends used to be a break from work. Now they're a chore. Crowds everywhere, hot weather, have to jostle for everything, and public transport? Weekend frequencies are 'off-peak', which just means even more people in fewer trains.' Stacked living, shrinking space The vertical nature of Singapore's urban planning is also fuelling a sense of entrapment for some. 'Land is scarce, everything's built upwards—malls stacked with floors, even parks on rooftops. Feels like there's no room to breathe,' another commenter wrote. That feeling isn't unfounded. Singapore's push for urban intensification has led to deforestation and redevelopment across areas such as Tengah, Dover, Bukit Batok, Sembawang, and Woodlands, as new estates rise to meet the growing housing demand. With soaring property prices, many buyers are forced to opt for smaller units, contributing to a growing psychological claustrophobia, especially for larger families. Urban progress or psychological toll? Singapore's global reputation for efficient city planning and greenery has often overshadowed the emotional cost of hyper-density. Still, online threads like this offer a raw and unfiltered look into the everyday realities of living in a 'garden city' that's rapidly evolving into a vertical metropolis. While the city has made major strides in connectivity and convenience, many Singaporeans are now asking: At what cost to mental space and quality of life? A potential wake-up call for urban planners With public sentiments spilling over into digital spaces, this isn't just a thread about 'complaints.' It's a signal, a reflection of growing unease with overdevelopment, overcrowding, and the loss of breathing room in both public and private life. If the nation is to continue growing without suffocating its citizens, policymakers and planners may need to revisit what 'liveability' truly means, not just in terms of economic indicators, but in the intangible, yet deeply felt, psychological space Singaporeans are steadily losing.
Arab News
6 days ago
- Arab News
Hajj operations set ‘global benchmark' in crowd management: Sri Lanka envoy
COLOMBO: Saudi Arabia's organization of this year's Hajj has set a new standard in crowd management through the use of advanced technologies, Sri Lanka's envoy said on Sunday, as hundreds of thousands of pilgrims started to return home. In the 2025 Hajj season, almost 1.7 million people undertook the spiritual journey that is one of the tenets of Islam. More than 1.5 million arrived in the Kingdom from abroad, according to data from the General Authority for Statistics. Pilgrims started to arrive in May, ahead of the main rituals which this year fell on June 6-10. Many have already departed for their countries of origin but special post-Hajj flights will continue to operate until mid-July. The way the temporary influx of people has been handled by the Kingdom has 'set a global benchmark in crowd management and smart innovation,' said Ameer Ajwad, Sri Lanka's ambassador to the Kingdom, who this year was part of his country's Hajj contingent. Technology has played a key role in monitoring footage from more than 15,000 cameras installed in and around the holy city of Makkah. The monitoring systems were designed to detect unusual crowd movements and anticipate bottlenecks in foot traffic to help prevent stampedes. 'The Kingdom set an exemplary global benchmark for crowd management by using AI-based crowd monitoring, predictive analytics as well as preventing unauthorized entries,' Ajwad told Arab News. 'Innovations by using advanced technologies such smart tents, digital tools and AI systems were also introduced to facilitate this year's Hajj arrangements.' More than 420,000 workers from the public and private sectors, including security services, served pilgrims during this year's Hajj, GASTAT data shows. The envoy highlighted the 'tireless services rendered by the Saudi security and military officers, as well as guides and volunteers,' and extended gratitude to the Ministry of Health for 'providing world-class healthcare services to the Hajj pilgrims (from) around the globe, including heart surgery for a Sri Lankan pilgrim.' About 3,500 Sri Lankans took part in the pilgrimage this year. Muslims constitute about 10 percent of the 22 million population of the island nation, which is predominantly Buddhist.
Zawya
13-06-2025
- Zawya
AI technology tracks real-time pilgrim entry at Grand Mosque gates
MAKKAH — The General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque has begun deploying advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems with sensor readers at the gates of the Grand Mosque in Makkah. This initiative aims to enhance crowd management by monitoring real-time entry and exit movements and enabling data-driven operational decisions. The AI-powered technology includes smart sensors and cameras installed at major entrances. These devices monitor the number of people entering and exiting, detect congestion points, and track crowd flow throughout the mosque, especially in critical areas like the Mataf (circumambulation area) and Masa (Sa'i corridor). The authority explained that this dual-layered monitoring system helps regulate movement, redistribute pilgrim groups during peak hours, and boost overall safety. By capturing real-time data, the system allows relevant authorities to act quickly, redirect flow, and avoid overcrowding. The smart technology also supports the development of tracking tools for human movement patterns inside the mosque, enabling a more efficient allocation of operational roles and staff. Data analytics further aid in optimizing the flow of worshippers and ensuring smooth access and exit across the mosque's levels. This step is part of the authority's broader strategy to integrate advanced technology in the service of pilgrims. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Free Malaysia Today
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Bukit Jalil LRT station extends hours for M'sia-Vietnam football match
Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd is deploying additional staff at strategic locations to assist crowd movement. KUALA LUMPUR : The operating hours of the Bukit Jalil LRT station will be extended until 12.30am, in conjunction with the AFC Asian Cup qualifier match between Malaysia and Vietnam tonight. Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd, in a statement today, announced that the extension was to ensure the smooth movement of supporters to and from the Bukit Jalil National Stadium. 'To facilitate travel, the operating hours of integrated stations will also be extended. Other stations will close as usual, but passengers can still exit at all stations to continue their journey home,' the statement read. Passengers are also advised to use Touch 'n Go cards and ensure sufficient card balance to avoid congestion when entering and exiting stations. Rapid Rail will also deploy additional staff at strategic locations to assist crowd movement and ensure smooth traffic flow within the stations. Those requiring assistance are encouraged to seek help from station personnel. The public is also advised to follow Rapid KL's social media channels and download the Pulse Rapid KL application to plan their journeys. For more information on Rapid KL's service schedule, visit
