Western region commander Assistant Comm-issioner Geoff McKechnie yesterday said in the last six years, police have worked hard to turn the Bathurst 1000 into a family-friendly event – a far cry from the days when cars were burnt on top of The Mount.

Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said race fans and the wider community can expect to see a large police contingent at The Mount and throughout the city in the lead up to the Great Race, with the police presence remaining until Monday.

“Operation West Vale commences early Thursday, with the majority of the police resources having already arrived in Bathurst on Wednesday afternoon,” he said.

Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said people can expect similar levels of police in the city, with the emphasis on making the event fun and safe for everyone.

“We have over 250 police involved in operation duties over four days,” he said, adding the Public Order and Riot Squad and police on trail bikes would be among those on The Mount and in the city.

He said police would be at all check points of Mount Panorama with general purpose and drug dogs, and that the same zero tolerance that applied to drugs last year would be in place again.

Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said that, as in previous years, daily alcohol limits of one carton of full strength beer per person per day, or 30 cans of mid strength beer per person per day, would apply.

But unlike previous years, no alcohol cloaking facilities would be in operation.

“In previous years, if people turned up with more than the daily limit, race organisers had provisions to cloak the excess for them,” he said.

“That facility will not be available this year, so people will have to manage themselves.”

Another issue facing campers at The Mount is the strong wind factor and high temperatures expected today.

“We are expecting much of the state to be covered by a total fire ban, so people need to be careful with fires and follow all instructions,” he said.

Overall, Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said police want everyone to stay safe and have fun.

“Our aim has always been to make the event safe and I think we’ve done a fantastic job to get it to where it is. But we can’t take our eye off the ball and we will continue to work with event management, security and Bathurst Regional Council to improve on the hard work that has already been done,” he said.