G20 Brisbane 2014

As someone whose office is in the Red Zone and whose office windows look directly into a G20 declared hotel I thought it might be interesting to post some observations.

I am not sure which way this could go, either nothing at all or we have some significant property damage from protests as per Toronto. We have all our solicitors and most other staff working from home this week, primarily due to the expected delays of getting in here. Myself and some settlement clerks will be in everyday as we have large numbers of settlements every day

In the office on a Sunday Morning and so far I have seen:

Multiple G20 buses pulling up in the street

Friendly and smiling G20 staff walking around talking on phones and coordinating drop offs

Several white holdens with g20 number plates pulled up outside hotels with smartly dressed men around them. Some of these are drivers and others, although dressed the same, can't be as they outnumber the cars and they are spread out looking all around the immediate area.

This could be my last post if nothing interesting happens or if it does I will be sure to post.
 
Lol. It was nice knowing you Darryl!

There are plenty of conspiracy theries around - hopefully nothing terrible to arise.

What do you think the traffic issues will be like on the City fringe? I know the CBD is locked down pretty tight.
 
Chind

A large part of my building are closing down for the week completely. I think that traffic could be light with a lot of people taking leave but that the complete stoppages for motorcades and the no go areas will make it worse later in the week.
 
Chind

A large part of my building are closing down for the week completely. I think that traffic could be light with a lot of people taking leave but that the complete stoppages for motorcades and the no go areas will make it worse later in the week.

its not in complete lockdown- a fair chunk of the city is still accessible and indeed the govt wants punters to out and about- they don't want a ghost town. However, they do want punters to behave themselves and might not have much tolerance if they don't.

There are 2 types of restrictions: declared and restricted areas.

Declared areas [e.g. event venues]are ok for punters to go into but will be watched like a hawk and then some. There will be no fencing for those, nor any signage.
Restricted areas- e.g. hotels etc where delegates are staying. Fencing and signage will be clear for punters. This is enter at your own risk stuff, or if you really want to make the evening news.

Overall, just don't shirt front anyone during that time and you should be ok methinks. Of course there will be road closures and clearly market detours will be visible. Id add a significant amount of extra time to get you where you want to go in the CBD and south Brisbane.

See this link for more information from brisbanetimes.com.au.
lots of useful stuff including road closures.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/brisbane-g20/g20-brisbane-guide-road-closures-parking-public-transport-security-and-more-20141104-3jlup.html[
 
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Went for a walk along the west end river side early this morning, apart from all the people riding 5k bikes,one backpacker van,one poor young Lady sleeping on a riverside park bench with all her gear in a large plastic bag all seems quite normal,but we have not gone into full lockdown yet..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MokNvbiRqCM
 
I went to the light show on weekend - brilliant. http://g20cultural.initiatives.qld.gov.au/events/colour-me-brisbane.html

The image's in the link are what it actually looked like. I was expecting it be much duller. Was set to music too. It was busy but not as crowded as say a NY fireworks thing.

I noticed there were a lot more tourists than normal. Are the G20 'cultural celebrations' a tourist attraction or were they just participants (journos, hangers on etc) tacking on a bit of holiday to the trip?
 
Drive in this morning was easy. A couple of boys in blue looking a bit more kitted up then normal and a group of 5 on mountain bikes but otherwise no difference at all.
 
There is a bit of a traffic flow change
this morning there was still nose-tail traffic heading towards Brisbane from Beaudesert, was moving,
but way more than usual amount for half nine
 
In Southbank on Sunday: loads of police wandering around in groups of 20 or more, police on bike patrols, 2 police escorting a bloke with a backpack along Grey St, lots of people with yellow vests wandering about with clipboards. Lots of barricade fencing around various areas. police at the front of some hotels.
I think police/people were getting orientations to the area.
Glad I dont work in the CBD. :D
 
I have honestly seen no difference between home and the city commuting on the train.

I've been told occasionally police do cabin searches etc, but I haven't come across anything yet, other than the fact Southbank is closed.

My work is on Ann Street too, so from Central to my building I haven't come across any of these clowns yet:
 

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Commuting in is easy so far, my regular restaurants are complaining about the lack of people in the city.
 
Whats interesting is our Building( not CBD, but close to the Airport) is hiring security for the weekend( total waste of money I believe)
2k for 24 hour onsite security.
 
Police are out in force today, lots more barricades up. City is pretty quiet each time I have been out.
 
I live in a suburb very close to the airport and have noticed an increase in police presence here.
I'll be glad when the whole thing is over, hopefully incident free.
 
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