WA Day drone show organisers slammed for ‘dangerous’ event
Organisers of a drone show as part of WA Day festivities in Perth have been slammed as a lack of security and packed crowds at Burswood Park combined to create a dangerous situation for thousands in attendance.
Several listeners complained the event at Burswood Park was a logistical nightmare, citing 90-minute waits to exit carparks and order food, while others said the set-up was too small and dangerous for patrons.
“There were thousands of people blocking the footpath because they couldn’t fit on the edge of the river,” one listener told Breakfast.
Let’s celebrate all the things we love about WA this #WADay💖From #quokkas to #whalesharks, @AFL to Aboriginal cultural experiences – tonight’s amazing drone show at the @WADayFestival captured some of the things we love most about WA. #SeeAustralia #ThisIsWA
📷DroneSkyShows/IG pic.twitter.com/ICEgX1OeHQ— Western Australia (@WestAustralia) June 6, 2022
Perth Live host Oliver Peterson told Parker the crowd crunch was dangerous and the event should have been held at a bigger venue like Langley Park.
“I had [son] Edward in my arms, really upset, as we were trying to get from the Causeway End towards the Optus Stadium end, we had a walk of 200m and it took over 45 minutes just trying to get through the crowd, and it was a crunch,” he said
“There were people with wheelchairs, people with scooters, people with bicycles… you couldn’t move. The poor people who had been there for hours and hours on end with picnic blankets getting the best vantage point, they were just run over.
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“It was just a really dangerous situation, with no crowd control.
“People just abandoned their cars on the side of the road. There were people parking in the slip lanes on Great Eastern Highway, they did not care. They just got out of their cars and went to watch the drone show.”
Press PLAY below to hear from listeners and Oliver Peterson on the wacky night
WA Day drone show event organiser Fiona Kalaf, from Celebrate WA, was unable to estimate exactly how many attended the event but said each year it was reviewed.
“Overall we thought it was a pretty fantastic day, obviously super pleased that the whole of Perth responded, it seemed,” she told Parker.
“Our prime concern is to… make sure people have a pleasant and safe experience and as in any of our reviews, we’ll look at how we can improve and enhance the event next year.”