New era for Kings Cross begins this long weekend

Hotel patrons in Kings Cross will be able to take advantage of the NSW Government’s new transport management plan from this long weekend, AHA (NSW) CEO Paul Nicolaou said today.

Mr Nicolaou said extra night time bus services to Central and Town Hall would help disperse the large crowds that gather in the city’s major entertainment precinct every weekend.

“I would encourage all hotel patrons to take advantage of the new bus services which will see an additional six runs an hour to Central Station and four services an hour to Town Hall,” he said.

“This will go a long way towards filling the void in public transport options between 1.30am and 5am when trains stop running.

“There are up to 25,000 people in the Cross on a Friday and Saturday night – only 9000 can actually fit into venues at any given time.

“Getting revellers home after a night out has been an issue for many years and hopefully these extra services will go a long way towards easing the problem.”

Mr Nicolaou also said extra taxi-marshals would be on duty from this long weekend with a pre-paid taxi trial to also start at the end of October.

The first blitz of police Operation Rushmore will also begin in the Cross on Friday with officers targeting alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour.

“We have been told that police will be providing additional police with the commencement of Operation Rushmore. Licensees look forward to having an increased policing presence in the public domain and will work collaboratively with them,” he said.

“This is an opportunity for patrons and licensees alike to show that Kings Cross is a vibrant entertainment precinct and, in conjunction with police, show that public places are as safe as inside our premises.”

Source: AHA NSW, 28 September 2012