In a council operation like never seen before, environmental health officers, parking officers, waste crew and events staff will be out in full force to keep the festival (March 8 to April 9) safe and enjoyable for the community.
Last year, the month-long festival attracted over 1.4 million visitors and while the majority of people were courteous and considerate, there were some who ignored the rules.
Parking officers issued 3,060 infringement notices for offences including disobeying no stopping signs, double parking, parking across driveways and stopping on footpaths or nature strips.
Motorists weren’t the only ones doing the wrong thing. Council officers also issued infringement notices to businesses operating without permission, improper food handling and dangerous cooking practices.
Mayor Bilal El-Hayek said Ramadan Nights was a special celebration for the community and the council would not compromise the safety of those attending.
“Most attending do the right thing, but we can’t tolerate any business that brazenly wants to cut corners,” the Mayor said.
“We saw examples of people barbecuing at a petrol station next to fuel bowsers and others barbecuing and spreading smoke which impacted on a busy road.
“Let’s all play our part to ensure Ramadan Nights is a safe and fun event.”
The council has been taking all measures to ensure Ramadan Nights is safe and friendly and all food vendors undertake council-run Safe Food Handling Workshops prior to the event.
Environmental health officers will undertake nightly inspections of food stalls and businesses, while parking officers will be patrolling surrounding streets.
Council Investigators will also be on-hand to tackle any illegal trading, pollution incidents and dumped rubbish, while waste crews will keep the event clean.
For more information about Ramadan Nights Lakemba, visit cb.city/RamadanNights
Out in force to ensure safety of over million at Ramadan Nights
SYDNEY’S biggest multicultural event, Ramadan Nights Lakemba, will welcome more than a million visitors this year and behind the scenes, council staff and police will be working overtime to ensure traffic rules and strict hygiene standards are met.
