POLICE will converge on Ballarat from across the state to ensure festival-goers' safety at Saturday's Spilt Milk music festival.
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With more than 20,000 people expected to descend on Victoria Park to see both local and international acts, Ballarat police have been planning their operation with event organisers, City of Ballarat and health services for months.
Local Area Commander Inspector Dan Davison said police do not want people taking part in risk taking activities such as consuming drugs.
"As well as poor health, there are also flow-on effects of people under the influence of drugs and alcohol making poor decisions that can put overall community safety at risk," he told The Courier.
Inspector Davison said police would be taking a zero tolerance approach and would apply the full extent of the law to any person caught trafficking or dealing illicit substances at the festival.
There will be a heavy police presence at Victoria Park in order to address any public order issues, which will progress to the central business district after the festival concludes.
We will have zero tolerance for poor behaviour in public that jeopardises the safety of others.
- Inspector Dan Davison
"We want to make sure everybody who attends, and those who haven't, are able to enjoy the city for the great place it is and are able to come and go safely."
A range of specialist units from across the state will support frontline police to detect and deter any illegal or anti-social activity throughout the day.
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This includes transit police, the mounted branch and highway patrol.
Inspector Davison said road policing was another focus for police, with so many lives already lost on state roads this year.
"Road policing is a huge issue. It is a huge risk with so many people coming to town, with the potential for drink or drug driving to have serious and dire consequences. We don't want to lose any more lives.
"Our message is clear - don't get behind the wheel impaired because we will be there doing everything we can to enforce the law to make sure every road user gets home safely."
Most of Victoria Park will be closed to the public throughout the weekend until Thursday next week with regular community activities like Park Run and dog obedience training relocated to other venues.
The Inclusive Play Space and Oak Avenue will remain open except for all day on Saturday.
No roads will be closed for the event, however parking bays will be reserved for Spilt Milk bus shuttle services on Mair Street between Lydiard Street and Coffee Palace Lane from 10pm to 2am on Friday night, and again from 9am to 5pm on Saturday.
- With Rochelle Kirkham
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