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SYDNEY - Accountant Gary Sandilands and his wife Jennifer are heading for the hills this week.
Faced with massive disruption to traffic - Sandilands isn't even sure if he'll be able to make it to work during the chaos of the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation summit - the Collaroy couple are fleeing to the mountains on Thursday to ski.
Many other Sydneysiders were considering following suit as the central city began shutting down yesterday, enclosed behind more than 5km of steel and concrete fencing that sprung up over the weekend as defence against an expected seige by anti-Apec protesters.
Police are expecting trouble.
New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma said yesterday he was sure some protesters would turn to violence. "My message to them is don't," he said. "But it you do, the police will be out in force and they'll enforce the law, and they'll do it with strength and security."
Behind the gaiety of multi-coloured banners and Apec-themed flower beds, Sydney is a city muscling up for a fight. Protesters, who have been banned from the inner-city during the week of meetings that peaks with next weekend's summit of 21 world leaders, have vowed to defy the bans.
Yesterday, police patrolled the fences that enclose Darling Harbour's convention and exhibition centre, and encircle Bridge and Macquarie streets, Circular Quay, and stretch across the Botanic Gardens to block public access to the Opera House.
Police at gates in the fence will monitor access and can demand ID and bag checks. Other police on jet-skis were already patrolling Darling Harbour, and police and military Blackhawk helicopters flew above the city. Many roads have been blocked, and commuters have been advised to use public transport.
The main arterial roads feeding commuters into the central business district are lined with more than 21,000 signs warning that they have become special clearways, with towaways and hefty fines imposed on any dissenters.
Yesterday, Sydney also tested a new, A$2 million ($2.3 million) alarm system designed to alert the CBD to any emergency with sirens and broadcast messages.
Navy divers and patrol boats are working the harbour, while RAAF F/A 18 Hornet jet fighters are on standby. In all, 3500 police and 1500 troops will protect the 4000 leaders, officials, ministers and business leaders in town for the summit.
