'Major disruptions': What to know about the pro-Palestinian Harbour Bridge march

SBS Australia

a day ago

Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge is set to host a pro-Palestinian protest on Sunday afternoon after the event was green-lit by NSW's highest court. Speaking on Sunday, NSW Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Adam Johnson said police "still have concerns" about the event, but he was in ongoing contact with the organisers. "We've come to some arrangements ... to alleviate those issues," he told reporters. 'If you're not going to engage in the assembly, I would suggest you do not come to the city, there are going to be major disruptions. But if you choose to come in and participate in the assembly, please do so reasonably [and] lawfully. "The risk is the numbers [of protesters] are unknown."
Transport for NSW has warned the public to expect major delays and disruptions across roads and public transport on Sunday.
What is the march route? Johnson said that after reaching a compromise with protest organisers, the Palestine Action Group, the march will start "a little bit north of the original location, [a] little bit north of Lang Park". Participants will then march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Bradfield Park in North Sydney.
"We've also negotiated the end point now to be into Bradfield Park. That in my view is a much better ending location for a large group of people," Johnson said.
Will the Sydney Harbour Bridge be closed? While the march is organised for 1pm, the Sydney Harbour Bridge will be closed from around 11.30am to 4.00pm — or even later. Transport for NSW suggested drivers and passengers should "delay non-essential travel in the Sydney CBD and North Sydney during the closure".
"If you must travel, allow plenty of additional journey time to get around Sydney on Sunday," it said on Saturday.
LISTEN TO It's also expected that the bridge's closure "will have a flow-on effect across the road and public transport network". The Harbour Tunnel will not be closed, but is expected to face heavy traffic. Other roads in the Sydney CBD and North Sydney are also expected to be closed at various times during the day, which may lead to "significant congestion in these areas and potentially nearby regions".
Transport for NSW suggested that for any critical travel, people should "allow plenty of time, or consider alternative routes".
How will public transport be affected? The public transport network is also expected to be heavily impacted on Sunday. Craig Morgan, Transport for NSW's executive director of operations management, said in a press conference that he expects the transport system, particularly the rail network, will be "extremely busy". During the closure times — possibly from 11.30am to 4.00pm — any bus service that crosses the Harbour Bridge will terminate at North Sydney or Wynyard. Due to scheduled trackwork, metro services will not operate between Tallawong and Sydenham, and buses will replace services only between Tallawong and Chatswood. Trains between Central and Bondi Junction on the T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line and South Coast Line will also be replaced by buses, and there will be no light rail between Circular Quay and Town Hall.
The Palestine Action Group intends to draw attention to what the United Nations has described as "worsening famine conditions" in Gaza.
The protest has garnered support from activists nationwide, human rights and civil liberties groups as well as several MPs and public figures such as former Socceroo Craig Foster. Premier Chris Minns previously warned the city would "descend into chaos" if the protest went ahead. Federal Opposition leader Sussan Ley also questioned the shutting down of a "critical piece of infrastructure" in Sydney. The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies expressed "deep disappointment" over the Supreme Court decision. "Freedom of expression and assembly are sacrosanct elements of our democracy which must be treasured, but we are concerned at the troubling precedent the Court has set by allowing this protest to take place on the Harbour Bridge," it said. The Jewish Council of Australia has supported the protest, describing the occasion as "momentous". "We stand with and join those marching across the bridge and call for immediate action to stop the Gaza genocide," executive officer Max Kaiser said. — With additional reporting from the Australian Associated Press